{"id":2434,"date":"2020-02-03T15:40:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-03T15:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/?p=2434"},"modified":"2025-10-08T16:09:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T00:09:24","slug":"covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19: The Contagion of Misinformation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In This Article<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\/#How_is_COVID-19_diagnosed\" >How is COVID-19 diagnosed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\/#Osmosis_COVID-19_Video\" >Osmosis COVID-19 Video<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\/#Where_did_COVID-19_originate\" >Where did COVID-19 originate?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\/#Why_are_we_calling_the_coronavirus_%E2%80%9CCOVID-19%E2%80%9D_now\" >Why are we calling the coronavirus \u201cCOVID-19\u201d now?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\/#How_is_COVID-19_spreading\" >How is COVID-19 spreading?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\/#What_is_the_mortality_rate_of_COVID-19\" >What is the mortality rate of COVID-19?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\/#How_can_I_stay_safe\" >How can I stay safe?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\/#Should_I_wear_a_mask_to_protect_against_COVID-19\" >Should I wear a mask to protect against COVID-19?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\/#Public_response_to_the_outbreak\" >Public response to the outbreak<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\/#How_to_continue_to_have_each_others_backs\" >How to continue to have each other\u2019s backs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Explore the COVID-19 virus in a brand new Osmosis video (now updated on May 13, 2020). We share tips on how to stay safe, assess the social impact of the virus, and address the rumors that have been spreading as fast as the outbreak itself.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early in December 2019, a person from Wuhan, China, became the first known individual to get sick with COVID-19, the virus formerly known as 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov). Since then, the virus has been spreading rapidly, with thousands of people now infected. Several countries have restricted flights to and from China, and the situation is worsening around the world, with countries like Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the US now on high alert. The WHO has declared the situation a&nbsp;<strong>global emergency<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_COVID-19_diagnosed\"><\/span>How is COVID-19 diagnosed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recently, Chinese health authorities updated the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19. The diagnostic criteria include exhibiting symptoms of the virus (which you can learn about in our video below), a CT scan showing an infected lung, and results from real-time polymerase chain reaction or rt-PCR tests, a quick test used in many labs and hospitals that can detect very small amounts of viral RNA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The general public is growing increasingly uneasy about COVID-19, and there\u2019s misinformation and confusion about the situation. So, what\u2019s happening\u2014and what can you do to help?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Osmosis_COVID-19_Video\"><\/span>Osmosis COVID-19 Video<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To get you up to speed on the outbreak, we created this video in collaboration with the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacific.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of the Pacific<\/a>&nbsp;(now with updated content):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 19) May Update- causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Uk2m3KJbJBU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_did_COVID-19_originate\"><\/span>Where did COVID-19 originate?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with other coronavirus outbreaks like SARS and MERS, COVID-19 most likely started with bats, but this time, the intermediate host was probably a pangolin, an animal that looks like a cross between an anteater and an armadillo. That\u2019s based on the fact that scientists identified a coronavirus in pangolins that\u2019s a&nbsp;<strong>96 percent genetic match<\/strong>&nbsp;to SARS-CoV-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"576\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/where-did-covid-originate.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/where-did-covid-originate.jpg 1921w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/where-did-covid-originate.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/where-did-covid-originate.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/where-did-covid-originate.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/where-did-covid-originate.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_are_we_calling_the_coronavirus_%E2%80%9CCOVID-19%E2%80%9D_now\"><\/span>Why are we calling the coronavirus \u201cCOVID-19\u201d now?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCoronavirus\u201d is a generic term for single-strand positive-sense RNA viruses with protein spikes on their surface that look a bit like a crown under a microscope\u2014in fact,&nbsp;<strong>corona<\/strong>&nbsp;is Latin for&nbsp;<strong>crown<\/strong>. These protein spikes allow the virus to invade cells lining the respiratory tract and lungs. After binding, the coronavirus enters and takes over the cellular machinery to make more and more copies of itself so it can spread to the surrounding cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"576\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/why-are-we-calling-the-coronavirus.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/why-are-we-calling-the-coronavirus.jpg 1921w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/why-are-we-calling-the-coronavirus.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/why-are-we-calling-the-coronavirus.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/why-are-we-calling-the-coronavirus.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/why-are-we-calling-the-coronavirus.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the COVID-19 outbreak began, the public referred to the virus simply as \u201ccoronavirus\u201d because we simply didn\u2019t have a good name for it at the time. On February 11, the World Health Organization formally named this new coronavirus disease COVID-19. They chose this name because it doesn\u2019t refer to a geographical location, an animal, a person, or a group of people\u2014all of which can lead to stigma. The WHO also wanted to make the name internationally pronounceable and related to the disease\u2014not an easy task!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officially, the virus is called SARS CoV-2, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, because it\u2019s genetically very similar to the SARS coronavirus, which was responsible for the SARS outbreak in 2002. SARS-CoV-2&nbsp;<strong>causes<\/strong>&nbsp;COVID-19.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the case of COVID-19,&nbsp;<strong>CO<\/strong>&nbsp;is short for&nbsp;<strong>corona<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>VI<\/strong>&nbsp;is short for&nbsp;<strong>virus<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>D<\/strong>&nbsp;stands for&nbsp;<strong>disease<\/strong>, and&nbsp;<strong>-19<\/strong>&nbsp;is the year of origin: 2019.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_COVID-19_spreading\"><\/span>How is COVID-19 spreading?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Coronaviruses can spread quickly. Usually, the virus spreads when people cough or sneeze, and tiny droplets containing the virus are released. These droplets can land on another person\u2019s mouth, nose, or eyes, and that allows the virus to enter a new person.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once a person is infected, symptoms develop an average of five days later. This is called the&nbsp;<strong>incubation period<\/strong>. The incubation period varies from person to person, and in some studies, the&nbsp;<strong>incubation period lasted as long as 24 days<\/strong>. There\u2019s debate about whether or not asymptomatic people can spread the disease, as these people typically have low levels of circulating virus. But even if they do, asymptomatic transmission likely plays a minor role in the overall epidemic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Viruses are given a&nbsp;<strong>reproductive number<\/strong>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<strong>R-naught<\/strong>&nbsp;based on how quickly they spread, and person-to-person transmission has been confirmed both in and outside of China. An&nbsp;<strong>R-naught of 1<\/strong>&nbsp;means that an infected person passes it on to&nbsp;<strong>1 new person<\/strong>, an&nbsp;<strong>R-naught of 2<\/strong>&nbsp;means that 1 person spreads it to&nbsp;<strong>2 new people<\/strong>, and so forth. If the R naught is below 1, the infection peters out; if it\u2019s 1, it stays steady, and if it\u2019s above 1, then it continues to spread.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The current estimate for the SARS-CoV-2 R naught is between 2 and 2.5. Of course, that\u2019s an average, with some spreading the disease less and others\u2014called&nbsp;<strong>super-spreaders<\/strong>\u2014spreading the disease at a much higher rate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"576\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/how-is-covid-spreading.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/how-is-covid-spreading.jpg 1921w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/how-is-covid-spreading.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/how-is-covid-spreading.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/how-is-covid-spreading.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/how-is-covid-spreading.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_mortality_rate_of_COVID-19\"><\/span>What is the mortality rate of COVID-19?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of February 27, 2020, there have been&nbsp;<strong>82,294 confirmed cases&nbsp;<\/strong>of COVID-19 and&nbsp;<strong>2,804 deaths<\/strong>, meaning the disease has an estimated&nbsp;<strong>mortality rate of 3.4 percent<\/strong>. For comparison, only about 0.1 percent of people who contract flu end up dying from it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The concerning thing about COVID-19 is that it\u2019s a&nbsp;<strong>contagious pathogen<\/strong>&nbsp;that is circulating in a number of countries around the world,&nbsp;<strong>with a non-negligible mortality rate<\/strong>. There are promising treatments, but a vaccine won\u2019t be available for quite some time.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/COVID-19_(Coronavirus_Disease_19)\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"576\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/mortality-rate-of-covid.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/mortality-rate-of-covid.jpg 1921w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/mortality-rate-of-covid.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/mortality-rate-of-covid.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/mortality-rate-of-covid.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/mortality-rate-of-covid.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_stay_safe\"><\/span>How can I stay safe?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The WHO has issued&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/q-a-detail\/q-a-coronaviruses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guidelines<\/a>&nbsp;to minimize the risks of contracting COVID-19 for those living in heavily affected areas.&nbsp;<strong>Wash your hands frequently<\/strong>&nbsp;with soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and if you have to cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or elbow (not your hands).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you live in a country where the risk is lesser but you still want to take precautions, wash your hands frequently.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2019\/12\/12\/the-flu-vaccine-explained\"><strong>G<\/strong><strong>etting a flu shot<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;will also help strengthen your lungs against respiratory infections that may develop while your body is already weakened by COVID-19.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/how-can-i-stay-safe.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/how-can-i-stay-safe.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/how-can-i-stay-safe.jpg?resize=300,200 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_wear_a_mask_to_protect_against_COVID-19\"><\/span>Should I wear a mask to protect against COVID-19?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we first published this article at the start of the pandemic, the recommendation was &#8220;no,&#8221; but updated health guidelines now state:&nbsp;<strong>yes, you should wear a mask.<\/strong>&nbsp;We now know that COVID-19 is primarily spread via droplets, and wearing a mask can prevent those droplets from entering your airways and infecting you with the virus. In fact, the CDC&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-coronavirus-2019\/question-and-answers-hub\/q-a-detail\/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-masks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recommends wearing a double layer of masks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to wearing a mask and avoiding close physical proximity to people outside your household or bubble, careful hand washing is key and should be done with soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Avoid touching your T-zone\u2014that\u2019s your eyes, nose, and mouth\u2014as this is a common entry point for viruses into the body. If there\u2019s any reason to wear a mask, it\u2019s to stop yourself touching your face!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For healthcare workers treating people with COVID-19, the recommendation is to apply droplet and contact precautions. That includes wearing personal protective equipment like a clean, dry surgical mask, gloves, long-sleeved gowns, and eye protection like goggles or a face shield.&nbsp;When performing a procedure that generates aerosol, like tracheal intubation, bronchoscopy, CPR, or noninvasive ventilation, it\u2019s important to wear a N95 respirator. This prevents 95 percent of the small particles, like respiratory droplets, from passing through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Public_response_to_the_outbreak\"><\/span>Public response to the outbreak<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s understandable that people have concerns about the outbreak. There\u2019s still a lot we don\u2019t know about how many people are actually infected and how this might play out. What\u2019s especially troubling is how some people are responding to the situation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the COVID-19 outbreak became news, there\u2019s been&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/opinion\/editorials\/coronavirus-2019-conv-chinese-racism-exclusion-20200130.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a rise in racial discrimination against people of East Asian descent<\/a>. A Canadian school board had to email an official response to calm \u201cconcerned parents\u201d who were demanding that&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/toronto\/coronavirus-chinese-stigma-york-regional-school-board-1.5443128\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">students who visited China be kept home from school<\/a>. In France, the hashtag&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/JeNeSuisPasUnVirus?src=hashtag_click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#JeNeSuisPasUnVirus<\/a>&nbsp;(\u201cI am not a virus\u201d) started trending in response to racist abuse the country\u2019s East Asian communities have been facing in light of the outbreak. In South Korea, some businesses are&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2020-01-30\/fear-in-the-age-of-coronavirus-chinese-no-longer-welcome\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">refusing to allow people of Chinese descent<\/a>&nbsp;to enter their establishments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, this isn\u2019t a new phenomenon. The 2002 SARS outbreak and the MERS outbreak in 2012&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/outlook\/2020\/01\/30\/real-danger-coronavirus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">both fuelled xenophobia, hoaxes, and conspiracy theories<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you see posts on social media that you know are false (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.indy100.com\/article\/coronavirus-hoax-food-vaccine-conspiracy-theory-wuhan-china-9306561\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">like the fake news story on bat soup that\u2019s been circulating<\/a>) or are fuelling racial tension, call the person out and submit a report to the platform hosting the content. If you see these situations happening in real life, consider speaking up or stepping in and intervening if you feel it\u2019s safe to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/public-response-to-the-outbreak.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/public-response-to-the-outbreak.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/public-response-to-the-outbreak.png?resize=300,200 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_continue_to_have_each_others_backs\"><\/span>How to continue to have each other\u2019s backs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s highly important that we have each other\u2019s backs as the COVID-19 outbreak continues. Be mindful of your personal hygiene, particularly if you\u2019re in frequent contact with immunocompromised people. And, if you can, try to do your part to stop misinformation from spreading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Access more than 1,200\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/home\/dashboard\">pathology<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/home\/dashboard\">physiology<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/playlist\/pharmacology\">pharmacology<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/playlist\/clinicalreasoning\">clinical reasoning<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/home\/library?topic=highyield&amp;subtopic=Cardiovascular&amp;show=concepts\">high-yield pathology videos for USMLE\u00ae \u00a0Step 1 review<\/a>\u00a0on Osmosis.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/plans\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/image_249307.png?w=700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/image_249307.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/image_249307.png?resize=300,107 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<\/strong><br><strong><strong><em>Try Osmosis today! Access your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/login?type=create\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free trial<\/a>&nbsp;and find out why millions of clinicians and caregivers love learning with us.<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore the COVID-19 virus in a brand new Osmosis video (now updated on May 13, 2020). We share tips on how to stay safe, assess the social impact of the virus, and address the rumors that have been spreading as fast as the outbreak itself. Early in December 2019, a person from Wuhan, China, became [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":2435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archive","category-covid"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>COVID-19: The Contagion of Misinformation - Osmosis Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/covid-19-the-contagion-of-misinformation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"COVID-19: The Contagion of Misinformation - Osmosis Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore the COVID-19 virus in a brand new Osmosis video (now updated on May 13, 2020). 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Here's a quick primer from Osmosis on all things related to the flu season: what\u00a0influenza\u00a0is and how it spreads, and why you should get vaccinated if you haven't already.\u00a0 What is the flu? Influenza, or simply the flu, is caused by the influenza virus. Almost everyone has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Healthcare Facts&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Healthcare Facts","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/category\/healthcare-facts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/flu-vaccine.webp","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/flu-vaccine.webp 1x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/flu-vaccine.webp 1.5x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/flu-vaccine.webp 2x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/flu-vaccine.webp 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6051,"url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-quick-history-of-vaccines-from-smallpox-to-covid","url_meta":{"origin":2434,"position":1},"title":"A Short History of Vaccines: From Smallpox to COVID","author":"Lynda Malcolm, MD, JD","date":"April 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Learn the pivotal role of vaccines in combating infectious diseases and the evolution of vaccination from variolation to mRNA technology in modern medicine.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Allopathic Medicine (MD)&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Allopathic Medicine (MD)","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/category\/medicine"},"img":{"alt_text":"A Short History of Vaccines From Smallpox to COVID","src":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/A_Short_History_of_Vaccines_From_Smallpox_to_COVID.png","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/A_Short_History_of_Vaccines_From_Smallpox_to_COVID.png 1x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/A_Short_History_of_Vaccines_From_Smallpox_to_COVID.png 1.5x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/A_Short_History_of_Vaccines_From_Smallpox_to_COVID.png 2x, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/A_Short_History_of_Vaccines_From_Smallpox_to_COVID.png 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3715,"url":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-quick-reference-guide-to-common-conditions-associated-with-long-covid","url_meta":{"origin":2434,"position":2},"title":"A Quick Reference Guide to Common Conditions Associated with Long Covid","author":"Kelsey Lafayette, DNP, ARNP, FNP-C","date":"May 20, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Understanding the common conditions associated with Long COVID is crucial for effective patient care and recovery. This guide explores persistent symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive issues, and dysautonomia, along with evidence-based management strategies to support patients in their healing journey. 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Osmosis has put together a series of quick reference guides covering topics like diabetes mellitus, long COVID, gut health, cortisol-related conditions, pregnancy, and care for older adults. 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