WHO launches Health Alert on WhatsApp to debunk COVID-19 myths

by Jermaine Farmer | March 22, 2020 | 02:11
WHO launches Health Alert on WhatsApp to debunk COVID-19 myths

Young people are not immune from coronavirus and must avoid socialising and communicating it to older, more vulnerable people, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

Tedros said that although older people had been the hardest hit by the disease, younger people were not spared, saying they made up numerous sufferers needing hospital treatment. Even if you don't get sick, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference. As of writing, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were both down around 1% on a daily basis.

World Health Organization emergencies director Michael Ryan said that two out of three people in intensive care in badly-hit Italy were aged under 70.

"Today, I have a message for young people: you are not invincible".

The coronavirus pandemic has spread to as many as 185 countries around the world has already affected over 2,50,000 people and claimed the lives of over 10,000. "Thank you for heeding our call for solidarity, solidarity, solidarity", he said. We are proud to have partners like Facebook and WhatsApp, that are supporting us in reaching billions of people with important health information. "And 12% in intensive care in Italy are under the age of 50".

On Friday, Italy said it had recorded 627 new COVID-19 deaths over the past 24 hours, taking its number of fatalities to over 4,000. Don't horde those masks. "Please prioritise the use of these masks for our frontline workers".

In his opening remarks, Ghebreyesus said that the reducing number of COVID-19 positive cases in Wuhan provide "hope for the rest of the world, that even the most severe situation can be turned around".

Experts said it shows the virus "can be suppressed".

Ghebreyesus said that self-restraint could save lives.

"During this hard time, it's important to continue looking after your physical and mental health", he said.

Yesterday, the company also announced a $1M grant to the International Fact-Checking Network to support fact-checking for the #CoronaVirusFacts Alliance, to report on rumours that may be circulating on various messaging services including WhatsApp or SMS.

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