When COVID-19 strikes: Part 1

March 17, 2020

“Sia la…. Tonite cannot go out again :(” Excuse my singlish and short-forms but the COVID-19 threat is real, and rapidly getting worse… Surely, many of you are nervous and some are unsure of the validity of the information you are reading. As such, I have compiled 3 most important tips that we must all practice to keep the virus at bay so that we can continue with our daily lives. Also, a big thank you to all front-line workers working non-stop to take care of patients and ensuring that our surroundings are properly disinfected.

Tip 1: Don’t circulate fake news

Given that we could easily access information rich social media applications, we are an easy target for those who wish to cause unnecessary social anxiety. Fake news is nothing new but what’s new is how easy it’s become to share information with friends and family. Many are often guilty of not pausing to check the source before sharing which lead to fake news spreading further till the point that it will be difficult to retrace the steps once it gets viral. Now… let’s get critical.

Who sent it?

Received the info or link from your friend or a family member? PAUSE, TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND COUNT TO TEN. If it is a url to a website, check the link. What is the domain name? Beware of sites that end with a second-level domain like “<yourNewsProvider>.com.co”. It might be designed with the intention to trick you to click on it. If you received a picture/info-graphics, check for spellling errrrrors (<–on purpose) and verify the logo source. If so, do not share with others. I repeat, DO NOT SHARE! If you still have doubts, you can use tools such as Google Reverse Image Search to determine if the image was altered.

One thing to keep in mind is that sometimes receiving news from various news agencies on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter might seem trustworthy. However… it is so easy for one to create a fake account claiming to be a reputable source (when they are not) – just like the image below. As such, I cannot iterate enough but please.. let us all question the source we are reading and receiving.

What’s the content?

Ask yourself, “Is this post or story trying to persuade me to do something?” If so, let’s examine the evidence. A credible article will include many facts and quotes from experts with actual data and charts to back up their claims. Another way to discern if an information is true is to see who else is reporting the news as well. For the very some piece of information, are news providers such as Channel News Asia and The Straits Times reporting similarly?

The Smart Local had also published an article about the chain of fake news that caused public panic and turmoil, check it out here.

Important links to keep abreast of the latest COVID-19 news and updates:

On a lighter note, check this video out! Mikey shares that he uses tabo instead of toilet paper since everyone across the globe is panic buying it. His humor will definitely keep you entertained (especially if you are working from home) for the next 5 minutes!

Stay safe everyone and don’t forget to wash your hands! 🙂 Do keep a lookout for my next post coming out real soon.

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