IT is very easy for anyone to spread fake news in this Covid-19 pandemic.
Chief Medical Officer Roshan Parasram shared information regarding the identification of fake news especially when in pertains to the coronavirus.
He was speaking during the Ministry of Health’s virtual media conference on Saturday.
Parasram said, “It is very easy for anyone to create fake news and share it widely on various platforms.”
He added that a person may not be aware that the information shared was fake.
The CMO stressed the importance of analysing information before it was shared.
He said, “Basically, if you’re not sure that the information is accurate or official, please don’t share it because we’ll be propagating something that is erroneous and spreading it to the population.”
Dr Parasram tips on spotting fake news:
- Access the source – Where did the information come from?
- Read beyond the headline – Read the entire message;
- Who wrote it? – Is the author a professional or subject matter expert?
- Check the date – Is this current or the most recent information?
- Examine the evidence – Is the data true? (Compare to other trusted information; and
- Check your biases – Am I reading this with an open mind?
Dr Parasram highlighted creditable sources of information including the Ministry of Health’s website, social media pages, media conferences, media releases from the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Prime Minister and other ministries.
