Outlandish conspiracy theories, in normal times, would make us shake our heads, but as COVID-19 cases continue to dominate today's headlines, ignoring false claims has become way too hard. We must do something about it.
Coronavirus deniers actually exist, and they've been using the hashtag #FilmYourHospital since March to entice people to visit hospitals and take pictures and videos to prove that the coronavirus pandemic is merely an elaborate hoax. This whole thing is based on the assumption that if parking lots and waiting rooms in hospitals are empty, then the pandemic is nothing but a made-up story propagated by the media and health organizations.
Hospital parking lots and waiting rooms are empty for a reason -- it's all part of controlling the outbreak as advised by health authorities. Many hospitals are now restricting visits, and doctors are being instructed to cancel non-urgent procedures to free up resources and medical staff.
To curb the spread of the virus and prevent cross infections with non-COVID-19 patients, health authorities like the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that hospitals must have separate areas for coronavirus patients and reserve areas for emergencies such as broken limbs and heart attacks. It's also worth noting that there have been fewer cases of strokes and heart attacks because the need for exerting effort has been reduced due to quarantine and lockdown guidelines.
This conspiracy theory about empty hospitals adds to the growing list of misleading information about the coronavirus and is, unfortunately, making the rounds on social media. There's a slew of other harmful information that people should not believe in as well, including drinking water with lemon, consuming silver particles, and 5G technology as the culprit in the spread of COVID-19. None of these are true.
The grim realities of hospitals overflowing with patients seeking treatment for the disease caused by the coronavirus are not visible from the outside. This has left a spot for fake news perpetrators to push dangerous misinformation and give birth to this group of ignorant folks called coronavirus deniers. And yet, hating them won't do any good as these people themselves are putting their lives in danger.
COVID-19 misinformation is a reminder that anything shared on social media must always undergo thorough fact-checking. We must educate people to only trust credible sources of information and teach them how to spot fake news before clicking the share button.
COVID-19 is real, people, and we must take this matter seriously.
