Coronavirus fever is spreading like wildfires in the traditional media and social media.
Stories with ever more eye popping headlines are flying out at an increasing pace.
This presents the perfect breeding ground for wild hyperbole and fake news.
How do you know if what you are reading and what you are watching is presenting the real facts rather just an attention grabbing interpretation of the actual facts?
This will be one of the big challenges of this current disease outbreak.
Aim for the Primaries
While I keep an eye on what is popping up on YouTube, flying across Twitter and even headlining on the BBC I do like to check for myself where ever possible, the primary sources - or at least as near to primary as possible.
With this outbreak originating, and currently still heavily centred in China language can come in to play. Luckily Google Translate can be of considerable help.
So this afternoon I've been tracking down what seem to be the more authoratative and near to primary sources as possible. Although I would hold back on using the descriptor of 'reliable' as even these types of information may well be subject to a certain degree of 'political management'.
That is why I will also keep open eyes on alternative media sourcesfor the news from the other end of the official sanctioned spectrum.
The real truth is out there - I suspect somewhere in between.
Official sources
In terms of 'official' sources these seem to be the current go-to places...
1 - John Hopkins University Global Cases real-time map...
2 - The World Health Organization's Situation Reports...
3 - The National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China...
4 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
5 - People's Daily (China's largest newspaper) Twitter feed...
If you know of any other 'official' sources that should be added to this list do let me know.
In terms of alternative media sources I am still exploring to find the more balanced and well researched ones that aren't going too far off the deep end. I would very much welcome suggestions here.
One source I have picked up on so far is @theouterlight on Steem. He has put together an interesting compilation of video clips...
To give perspective on the quest for truth on this topic take a look at @lukestokes latest post...
I will end on a small point of confusion or bemusement...
On Twitter in the UK a top trending tag has been coronarovirus - note the incorrect spelling!
Am I missing something?
[ image from pixabay.com ]