Social media has been filling up with information, memes, and even false reports about the coronavirus crisis that China is battling with. Experts said too much exposure to false claims about the novel virus on social media may be more damaging than expected.
Younger Americans Have Greater Fear than Adults
U.S. federal officials said fears about getting infected with the 2019-nCoV is particularly higher among younger people in the country compared to older adults.
According to the Los Angeles Times, experts believe there is a link to fears in younger Americans to the fact that the medical emergency is most likely the first time they are seeing a health crisis as fast-peaking as the Wuhan coronavirus.
Furthermore, experts pointed out that constant exposure to information about the coronavirus on social media may be affecting their mindset regarding the disease. The bigger problem is, some of the data being spread through social media platforms are untrue.
The recent findings regarding reactions to the novel virus may be tied to previous statements by medical and epidemic experts who stated that overreaction to the new coronavirus will not help fix the problem.
Despite the comments of experts on the world possibly overreacting to the coronavirus outbreak, schools around the world are suspending classes as a means of preventing further infections.
Bay Area Schools Prepare to Suspend Classes
In the Bay Area, schools are already starting to implement measures that they believe will help keep the virus from spreading among students, NBC Bay Area reported.
Oakland Unified and San Jose Unified School District said they will closely monitor students who have high fever. Those who show symptoms of a fever will be isolated promptly and sent home, while staff members or students who were in China before February 2 will be prohibited from attending classes for two weeks.
Singapore Schools Cancel Crowd-Attracting Events
In Asia, pre-schools, higher-level schools, and even eldercare institutions have announced that they will cancel gatherings or events that were initially meant to draw crowds.
According to Channel News Asia, Singaporean Health Minister Gan Kim Yong also said earlier this week that the city-state's Ministry of Health (MOH) has urged businesses to follow suit in suspending events that will attract a large number of people.
The said measures are being encouraged to prevent the Wuhan coronavirus from spreading in groups that may be vulnerable to the disease or people who may have weaker immune systems.
In Singaporean schools, the events that will be canceled are as follows: camp events, mass assemblies, field trips, communal gatherings, and other similar activities. Recess hours will also be staggered as part of the virus containment measures.
Philippine Province Announces 3-Day Classes Suspension
In the Philippines, the province of Negros Occidental announced earlier this week that classes will be suspended from February 5-7 in all public schools across the entire province.
CNN Philippines reported that in the official declaration released to all respective education departments, the province's governor Roel Degamo said the cancelation of classes for three days was a "precautionary measure to contain and mitigate the spread of the dreaded disease."
While public schools have no choice but to adhere to the official order, private schools can suspend classes depending on their board's decision.
The gubernatorial office of Negros Occidental's move came after the country's Health Department announced that medical experts around the country are closely observing 105 people who may have contracted the Wuhan coronavirus.
Hong Kong Suspends Classes Until Early March
Meanwhile in China, a government source revealed to the South China Morning Post last week that classes will be canceled at least until March 2 as the region reels from the increasing death toll in the country.
Pre-schools, primary, and secondary schools are the levels expected to have extended breaks due to the coronavirus outbreak. Three universities have also confirmed that they will extend the winter break: University of Hong Kong (HKU), Polytechnic University, and Baptist University.
It remains to be seen whether other countries will suspend classes amid the outbreak or if they will stick with stricter screening measures as a means of blocking the coronavirus' further proliferation among younger generations.
