Unfortunately, the world at large has witnessed the whole spectrum of “misinformation” from fake news on Covid-19, to official denials of the nature and gravity of the threat, to governments deliberately spreading misinformation to control narratives. Thailand and Nigeria arrested journalists after they reported on the spread of the pandemic or criticized their government’s response. To tackle misinformation and disseminate authoritative health advice, all governments, the media, and social media companies need to work together with WHO and other health authorities. Care must be taken to ensure that the tackling of misinformation is not used as a pretext for repressive laws and policies. As for official denials and withholding of information, all governments must keep in mind that this will only serve as fuel to this pandemic.

Source: Dhaka Tribune April 12, 2020 12:11 UTC