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I am receiving too many forwarded messages regarding COVID-19, are agencies taking some steps to control the spread of such misinformation?

During such unprecedented times, it seems a problem to receive messages in bulk that are not even reliable. Before answering your question I would like to suggest that never share such kind of misinformation, what you can do on your part is that stop-check-delete thus, you are stopping the chain of misinformation then and there.

The answer to your question is: Yes! To spot the difference between information and misinformation about the pandemic, the UNESCO and other UN agencies have joined hands to strengthen the work of Covid-19 infodemic, as a result of which hundreds of millions of people worldwide will be better able.

This co-operation is supported by a grant of $4.5m from the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The fund was specifically set up to support work to track and understand the spread of the virus; ensure patients get the care they need, and frontline workers get essential supplies and information and accelerate research and development of a vaccine and treatments for all who need them.

WHO’s Unit Head for High Impact Events Preparedness, Tim Nguyen stated, “Through combining strengths, we are rolling out a concerted push. Together, this will help to monitor misinformation, and empower people to recognize falsehoods – and at the same time, increase people’s access to accurate information.”

Thousands of journalists will be trained for updated reporting on the pandemic and related disinformation through a series of online interactive briefings with experts and mentors. Part of the package will be training on how to operate a home-based radio studio during lockdown.

WHO, through its offices in Africa, is developing an “Infodemic Response Alliance” that will bring together ministries of health, civil society, media, fact checkers and UN actors to ensureearly warnings of misinformation. Other WHO activities are planned in the Eastern Mediterranean, European, the Americas, and South East Asia regions. Read more

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