The outbreak of COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus in December, 2019, has resulted in widespread fear, misinformation and conspiracy theories. Bad-faith actors have spread this false information using social media, counterfeit documents from health organizations, and malicious rumors in order to drum up unwarranted anxiety and paranoia. The targets of this paranoia have been Chinese Americans, and other Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), leading to numerous instances of anti-Asian hate incidents around the nation. OCA is working hard to dispel these myths surrounding the COVID-19, a first step towards preventing further incidents. Here are some of the most commonly-shared myths about COVID-19.
MYTH: THE AVERAGE PERSON FACES A HIGH RISK OF MORTALITY FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.
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FACT: THE OVERALL MORTALITY RATE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS IS 2%. HTTPS://WWW.BBC.COM/NEWS/HEALTH-51048366
MYTH: PEOPLE OF ASIAN DESCENT ARE MORE LIKELY TO CONTRACT AND/OR TRANSMIT THE CORONAVIRUS.
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FACT: “BEING CHINESE OR ASIAN AMERICAN DOES NOT INCREASE THE CHANCE OF GETTING OR SPREADING COVID-19,” ACCORDING TO THE CDC. HTTPS://WWW.CDC.GOV/CORONAVIRUS/2019-NCOV/ABOUT/RELATED-STIGMA.HTML