Above The Noise | Busting COVID-19 Myths and Misinformation: We Got You @AboveTheNoise | Uploaded 4 years ago | Updated 10 minutes ago
With new information about COVID-19, comes misinformation too! False claims and rumors about everything from treatments and remedies to how the virus is spread are popping up everywhere-- it’s hard to keep track of what’s accurate and what’s not. Myles not only sets the record straight by speaking to a public health expert to answer some of your most burning COVID-19 questions, but also gives you some quick tips on how to vet if what you’re coming across online is accurate or not.
SUBSCRIBE so you never miss a video!
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And follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
instagram.com/abovethenoisepbs
twitter.com/ATN_PBS
New information about COVID-19 and the coronavirus is coming at us fast-- and sometimes the new information contradicts what was previously believed. And that’s a totally normal part of science-- that’s just how science works. And with COVID-19, scientists all over the world are working fast to try to learn as much as they can about the new virus and disease. And because of this gap in knowledge and changing information, it totally makes sense that there’s a lot of misinformation floating around out there. So we talked to U.C. Berkeley's Dr. John Swartzberg, a public health expert, to set the record straight on a few common questions.
Here are some of the Doc’s answers to your questions.
**Isn’t the flu just as dangerous as this novel coronavirus? Why are we shutting down society for it?**
The flu does kill a lot of people every year, but COVID-19 has the potential to kill even more people.
**Does taking Vitamin C protect you against COVID-19?**
No, there’s no evidence that vitamin C will protect you against COVID-19. Vitamin C is important for your overall health and immune system, but you can get that with the foods you eat. No need to spend money on lots of vitamin c supplements.
**If you can hold your breath for 20 seconds does that mean you don’t have COVID-19?**
No. That recommendation is a myth-- don’t follow it.
**Does drinking alcohol kill the virus?**
Drinking alcohol actually weakens the immune system.
And here are some of our tips on how to figure out if what you’re coming across online is legit or not.
Read laterally. Open up some google tabs and see if you can validate the information. Google the publication, google the person being interviewed, google the claim/ story itself. If there are lots of legit news organizations, or health organizations corroborating the claim, then it’s probably good to go.
Know who to trust. The CDC, WHO and Johns Hopkins are great resources to go to for up-to-date information about the virus and disease. Snopes.com and Poynter’s COVID-19 misinformation have professional fact checkers that busting some common COVID-19 myths too.
Also, check out our video on how to spot bad science reporting!
RESOURCES
COVID-19 misinformation is going viral — help stop the spread (Poynter)
poynter.org/fact-checking/2020/covid-19-misinformation-is-going-viral-help-stop-the-spread
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (CDC)
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters (WHO) https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
The CoronavirusFacts Alliance Database (Poynter)
poynter.org/ifcn-covid-19-misinformation/?covid_countries=47323&covid_rating=0&covid_fact_checkers=0
Severe Outcomes Among Patients with (COVID-19)-US, Feb 12–Mar 16, 2020 (CDC)
cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6912e2.htm
TEACHERS: Get your students in the discussion on KQED Learn, a safe place for middle and high school students to investigate controversial topics and share their voices. learn.kqed.org/discussions
About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services, and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source, leader, and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places, and ideas.
Funding for KQED’s education services is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Koret Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the AT&T Foundation, the Crescent Porter Hale Foundation, the Silver Giving Foundation, Campaign 21 donors, and members of KQED.
#coronavirusrumors #covidmyths #covid-19news
With new information about COVID-19, comes misinformation too! False claims and rumors about everything from treatments and remedies to how the virus is spread are popping up everywhere-- it’s hard to keep track of what’s accurate and what’s not. Myles not only sets the record straight by speaking to a public health expert to answer some of your most burning COVID-19 questions, but also gives you some quick tips on how to vet if what you’re coming across online is accurate or not.
SUBSCRIBE so you never miss a video!
bit.ly/3tNKzhV
And follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
instagram.com/abovethenoisepbs
twitter.com/ATN_PBS
New information about COVID-19 and the coronavirus is coming at us fast-- and sometimes the new information contradicts what was previously believed. And that’s a totally normal part of science-- that’s just how science works. And with COVID-19, scientists all over the world are working fast to try to learn as much as they can about the new virus and disease. And because of this gap in knowledge and changing information, it totally makes sense that there’s a lot of misinformation floating around out there. So we talked to U.C. Berkeley's Dr. John Swartzberg, a public health expert, to set the record straight on a few common questions.
Here are some of the Doc’s answers to your questions.
**Isn’t the flu just as dangerous as this novel coronavirus? Why are we shutting down society for it?**
The flu does kill a lot of people every year, but COVID-19 has the potential to kill even more people.
**Does taking Vitamin C protect you against COVID-19?**
No, there’s no evidence that vitamin C will protect you against COVID-19. Vitamin C is important for your overall health and immune system, but you can get that with the foods you eat. No need to spend money on lots of vitamin c supplements.
**If you can hold your breath for 20 seconds does that mean you don’t have COVID-19?**
No. That recommendation is a myth-- don’t follow it.
**Does drinking alcohol kill the virus?**
Drinking alcohol actually weakens the immune system.
And here are some of our tips on how to figure out if what you’re coming across online is legit or not.
Read laterally. Open up some google tabs and see if you can validate the information. Google the publication, google the person being interviewed, google the claim/ story itself. If there are lots of legit news organizations, or health organizations corroborating the claim, then it’s probably good to go.
Know who to trust. The CDC, WHO and Johns Hopkins are great resources to go to for up-to-date information about the virus and disease. Snopes.com and Poynter’s COVID-19 misinformation have professional fact checkers that busting some common COVID-19 myths too.
Also, check out our video on how to spot bad science reporting!
RESOURCES
COVID-19 misinformation is going viral — help stop the spread (Poynter)
poynter.org/fact-checking/2020/covid-19-misinformation-is-going-viral-help-stop-the-spread
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (CDC)
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters (WHO) https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
The CoronavirusFacts Alliance Database (Poynter)
poynter.org/ifcn-covid-19-misinformation/?covid_countries=47323&covid_rating=0&covid_fact_checkers=0
Severe Outcomes Among Patients with (COVID-19)-US, Feb 12–Mar 16, 2020 (CDC)
cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6912e2.htm
TEACHERS: Get your students in the discussion on KQED Learn, a safe place for middle and high school students to investigate controversial topics and share their voices. learn.kqed.org/discussions
About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services, and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source, leader, and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places, and ideas.
Funding for KQED’s education services is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Koret Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the AT&T Foundation, the Crescent Porter Hale Foundation, the Silver Giving Foundation, Campaign 21 donors, and members of KQED.
#coronavirusrumors #covidmyths #covid-19news
