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.

Related Articles

  • BC COVID-19 cases grow by 77

    BC COVID-19 cases grow by 77

    Earlier this week, she said restaurants could continue dine-in as long as they had the space to enforce social distancing. Five previously diagnosed patients have recovered, having now tested negative for the virus on two separate occasions.
    Xbox Series X release date accidentally revealed, then withdrawn

    Xbox Series X release date accidentally revealed, then withdrawn

    Either way, both consoles will launch this holiday 2020 with Sony and Microsoft no doubt releasing more details before then. The original Xbox One , for example, was released on Friday 22 November 2013.
    Amazon Suspends Many Shipments Until At Least April

    Amazon Suspends Many Shipments Until At Least April

    So it's possible Amazon's own supplies of laptops, PC parts, and video games could thin out, depending on the supply and demand. The limits apply to large vendors and third-party sellers, who list items to sell on Amazon .com directly.
  • U.S. senator who knew about pandemic sold personal stocks

    U.S. senator who knew about pandemic sold personal stocks

    Fox News host Tucker Carlson has also come out as a conservative voice calling for Burr to be probed. "This behavior is rancid". Burr , chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sold between $628,000 and $1.7 million of his stocks on February 13.
    U.S. stocks plunge as traders fear coronavirus will cause deep recession

    U.S. stocks plunge as traders fear coronavirus will cause deep recession

    The Dow was down more than 17 percent for the week, its biggest weekly decrease since October 2008, when it dropped 18.2 percent. Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 1.27-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.55-to-1 ratio favoured decliners.
    Trudeau announces $82b aid package to support Canadian workers, busnisses

    Trudeau announces $82b aid package to support Canadian workers, busnisses

    Quebec reported its first death from COVID-19, an elderly person from the Lanaudiere region, northeast of Montreal. Typically, new arrivals in Canada have to wait at least three months to access provincial health coverage.
  • Cruise Ship with COVID-19 Passengers

    Cruise Ship with COVID-19 Passengers

    The ship is now far off the coast of Sydney with the 1,100 crew aboard, including the one member of staff who tested positive. At least some of the passengers - many of them from the cruise ship Costa Luminosa - were being taken a hangar for screening.
    Zarif calls on Japan to ramp up efforts against anti-Iran sanctions

    Zarif calls on Japan to ramp up efforts against anti-Iran sanctions

    Most people who come down with the COVID-19 illness caused by the virus experience only minor symptoms and recover within weeks. That anxious health officials, who for weeks ordered Iran's Shi'ite clergy to close them. "We had no delay", Rouhani said.
    F1 supremo Chase Carey says ‘soz about Oz’

    F1 supremo Chase Carey says ‘soz about Oz’

    Former Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey penned a letter to all Formula 1 fans in the wake of the outbreak and the effect it has had on a global level.
  • Joe Biden, nominee-in-waiting, with a long wait

    Joe Biden, nominee-in-waiting, with a long wait

    The congresswoman was never a serious contender to win the nomination, but qualified to appear in several Democrat debates. Kamala Harris in July 2019, when Gabbard criticized the former prosecutor's record on marijuana and the death penalty.
    Interest temporarily waived on federal student loans

    Interest temporarily waived on federal student loans

    Trump had previously announced that interest would be waived on all federal student loans "until further notice". The agency said states can begin canceling tests now if they decide it's necessary as a safety measure.
    Some spring breakers are still hitting beaches amid the coronavirus pandemic

    Some spring breakers are still hitting beaches amid the coronavirus pandemic

    The Clearwater City Council voted to close down Clearwater Beach for two weeks, starting March 23 at 6 a.m. The "party's over" for spring breakers, Florida Gov.