The study found that rumors about the new coronavirus have killed hundreds of people

According to the website of Chile’s third edition times on August 18, a study conducted in 87 countries and regions showed that hundreds of people died due to false news and conspiracy theories about the new coronavirus. Excerpts from the report are as follows: < / P > < p > at the end of last week, about 2000 people gathered in Madrid to protest the mandatory wearing of masks in public places as a result of the new crown pandemic. None of the protestors wore protective gear or kept a social distance. They are shouting slogans, questioning the virus, the global health crisis, and the numbers of people infected and dead provided by the authorities, accusing the government of taking measures to restrict people’s freedom. These gatherings take place in many parts of the world day after day. This real and dangerous situation is part of a study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and health. The study includes an analysis of rumors related to the new coronavirus and conspiracy theories about pandemics on social networking sites, newspapers and the Internet between December 31 and April 5 this year.

researchers collected 2311 novel coronavirus pneumonia error reports in 25 languages, including 89% of the 87 countries and regions, classified as “rumours”, 7.8% as “conspiracy theories”, 3.5% as “stigmatized” reports of discrimination and discredit of specific groups. < / P > < p > the study cites some examples: “rumors” category includes “eggs contaminated with new coronavirus” or “drinking bleach can kill the virus”; and “conspiracy theory” includes “this is a biological weapon funded by the bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to promote vaccine sales.”. Other false news included drinking high concentration alcohol to disinfect the body, drinking urine or eating cow dung to avoid infection with new crowns, spraying chlorine disinfectant on the body, and so on. < / P > < p > analysis showed that 24% of all these reports were related to new crown symptoms, its mortality and transmission; 21% related to prevention and control; 19% to treatment or “cure”; 15% to etiology and virus origin; 1% to violence; and 20% to other factors. < / P > < p > according to the study, at least 800 people around the world have died due to these erroneous messages, and at least 5876 of those who drank methanol to treat the new crown have been hospitalized, and 60 of them have been completely blind. (compiler / Han Chao)