COVID-19: UN in Egypt launches campaign to curb online rumors

In an attempt to curb rumors circulating online about COVID-19, UN agencies in Egypt have launched a joint effort aimed at raising awareness amid efforts by the government to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus.

Led by World Health Organization, UNESCO and the United Nations Information Centre in Cairo, the ongoing social media campaign targeting Arabic speaking audience is also meant to serve as a citizen’s guide to verify information sources and enable communities to fight rumors that could hinder effective response in times of crisis.

A number of audio messages from unknown sources that convey rumors or false information are being widely circulated. Please don’t share these messages to prevent their spreading,” read one of a series of Arabic messages on World Health Organization Egypt Twitter account.

The campaign provided tips to help social media users verify information sources and guiding them to where they can find valid information resources.

Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) is working very closely with the government of Egypt to make sure that it can better respond to a scenario including a surge of cases, WHO representative in Egypt Jean Jabbour told reporters in Cairo on Wednesday.

“WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health and Population in order to update its plan, in order to update even the list of referral hospitals, the list of isolation and treatment hospital and most importantly testing size in order to cope well with the increase of number if it happened,” he said.

Moreover, UN agencies including WHO, UNHCR and IOM, are working together for a coordinated response to the needs of vulnerable communities, including refugees and migrants, who receive the same treatment as Egyptians.

 “In case of any infection they follow the same system applied in the Arab republic of Egypt and WHO is acting in full coordination with concerned UN agencies and other international partners to take any required measures,” said Mr. Jabbour.