COVID-19: Pan(info)demic.

Shibu Sasidharan, Dhillon Harpreet Singh, Singh Vijay, Babitha Manalikuzhiyil
Author Information
  1. Shibu Sasidharan: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical care, Level III IFH Hospital, MONUSCO, Goma, DR Congo. ORCID
  2. Dhillon Harpreet Singh: Department of Psychiatry, Level III IFH Hospital, MONUSCO, Goma, DR Congo. ORCID
  3. Singh Vijay: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical care, Level III IFH Hospital, MONUSCO, Goma, DR Congo. ORCID
  4. Babitha Manalikuzhiyil: Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Ojas Hospital, Panchkula, India. ORCID

Abstract

The world has experienced pandemics worse than the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the global effect of this pandemic has been overwhelming. Billions of people are in lockdown and also have easy access to information owing to easy and cheap internet connectivity and electronic media. However, information overload during the current COVID-19 pandemic has posed a set of challenges that were not encountered before. There is an 'infodemic' in which false news, conspiracy theories, magical cures, and racist news are being shared at an alarming rate, with the potential to increase anxiety and stress and even lead to loss of life. This review highlights some of these challenges and suggests general measures to avoid information overload and infodemic in the connected world of 21 century.

Keywords

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