JANUARY 29 — As the health authorities all over the world gear up for the containment of the novel coronavirus , each country’s rumour mill has been in overdrive which subvert the noble efforts of the authorities.
In Malaysia, we have seven confirmed patients. The authorities have investigated over 30 suspected cases so far. These people do not think twice that their over-exaggeration and lies can have a very serious impact on society. This is a vicious cycle where people are afraid of being infected, thus sharing information to warn others regardless of how factual the information is. Others seeing the information, think of the same thing, and sharing it again. And because of all the sharing of rumours, people believe that it is the truth as there are so many other people sharing it.
Although the Ministry of Health has their own official social media account, it is far from enough to counteract the spreading of rumours. This is too premature to conclude. As it is, the rate of infection is faster than SARS even infecting those with no symptoms at all although the death rate arising from it is lower than SARS so far.
Thailand was the most popular foreign destination for people from Wuhan between December 30 and January 22, the day before the lockdown was enforced.