By the A.M. Costa Rica staff and wire services

From misinformation about the use of disinfectants to combat the coronavirus to false claims that the virus can spread through radio waves and mobile networks, unreliable information is hurting the global effort to defeat the covid -19 pandemic, said United Nations on Thursday.

By dispelling rumors, fake news, and messages of hate and division, the United Nations announced a new covid -19 Communications Response Initiative based on science to fight misinformation.

“Fear, uncertainty, and the proliferation of fake news have the potential to weaken the national and global response to the virus, bolster nativist narratives and provide opportunities for those who may seek to exploit this moment to deepen social divisions,” said Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, who will lead the campaign. “All this threatens to undermine the international cooperation urgently needed to deal with the impacts of this crisis.”

Communications Response Initiative is Producing and disseminating facts and accurate information. The World Health Organization (WHO), which is at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic, is transmitting authoritative information based on science while also seeking to counter myths.

Partnering with WhatsApp and Facebook, WHO launched dedicated messaging services in several languages, including Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, to share critical guidance on covid-19. This easy-to-use messaging service could reach up to 2 billion people and allows WHO to get the facts directly into people’s hands.


Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, recently spoke out against restrictive measures imposed by several States against the independent media, as well as the arrest and intimidation of journalists, saying the free flow information was vital in fighting covid-19.

“Some States have used the outbreak of the new coronavirus as a pretext to restrict information and stifle criticism,” Bachelet said. “A free media is always essential, but we have never depended on it more than we do during this pandemic when so many people are isolated and fearing for their health and livelihoods.”

According to Bachelet credible, accurate reporting is a lifeline for all the people. She also noted that some political leaders had directed statements towards journalists and media workers that created a hostile environment and compromised their safety and ability to do their work.







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