The lack of understanding and preparedness for COVID-19 plus the fast-spreading nature of the virus has contributed to the exponential surge of cases worldwide, leading to a global pandemic of earth-shattering proportions. It has even been touted as an unprecedented health crisis with more grievous consequences than the Bubonic Plague or the Spanish flu.
Is Mass Ignorance Outpacing Reasoning?
Yet despite the outcry from many governors and senators for citizens to continue self-distancing and quarantining, many are not buying stay-at-home orders. Mounting anger and frustration with the lock down and no end in sight, throngs of protesters—biting at the bit to get back to work—are flocking to state capitols, claiming politicians are overreaching in their restrictions and trampling on their civil liberties and the right to work. Many of the demonstrators, wielding signs that read, “Liberate Us” and “Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death,” refuse to wear masks or abide by the six-foot social distancing regulation.
Beaches are re-opening, churchgoers continue to congregate—determined not to forfeit their right to assemble and worship—and a resurgence of social gatherings has been reported at municipal parks and golf greens. Conspiracy theories abound, claiming governments are gas-lighting citizens—feeding them massive lies about the pandemic. Conspiracy theorists insist the lock down will collapse financial organizations and that corrupt politicians, the World Health Organization (WHO), and savvy financiers will gain economic monopoly and power to take over the world. And security for Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, has been beefed up due to death threats.
While a study by Harvard researchers report that social distancing might remain in effect until 2022, their message is falling on deaf ears. Hardliner religious leaders argue that scientists, government officials, and WHO don’t believe in God and are determined to usurp their God-given rights to assemble and worship.
Will the impatience, frustration, and refusal to heed scientists and government leaders create a second wave of the pandemic and put the nation at greater risk? If you believe the Harvard researchers and an alarming new study reported by eMediHealth, an expert-reviewed health resource, the answer could be yes. Pollfish, a market research platform, collected data between April 6-14, 2020 from 5,000 adult residents of the United States regarding general views of the COVID-19 threat, measures taken, and precautionary practices. Here are the major findings:
Reliable Data:
71% of the respondents rely on news outlets as their most trusted source to keep abreast of the pandemic and 50% turn to social media while only 43% rely on data from credible health organizations such as WHO or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Facts: With the constant barrage of information, it can be difficult to tell facts from hearsay or misinformation. In an age of ubiquitous social media, unverified information can mislead scores of people, sending them in the wrong direction and creating adverse repercussions and mismanagement of the pandemic.
Prevention and Treatment
Although 85% give precedence to frequent hand washing with soap, as high as 40% of respondents believe home remedies can protect against the Coronavirus. A total of 20% said they believe the flu is more dangerous than COVID-19, and 26% overestimate the scope of antibiotics, thinking these drugs can eliminate the infection.
Facts: While COVID-19 and the flu are both viral infections that primarily affect the respiratory system, many people underestimate the severity of the Coronavirus (which is more contagious and dangerous than the flu) and brush it off as similar to the regular flu. There is no specific proven treatment for COVID-19 except proper home care to alleviate the symptoms. But there are hardly any medical interventions that eliminate the virus from your system. The lack of treatment for the virus has prompted some people to try various alternative remedies without any credible proof about their efficacy.
Stress Level
Nearly 39% of the respondents said they feel extremely tense in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, whereas 34% reported normal stress levels. Almost a quarter of the respondents said they do not take a lot of stress, whereas the remaining 3% claim they are not disturbed at all.
Facts: The Coronavirus is not only an imminent threat to physical well-being, but it has adversely affected the mental and emotional health of people, some of whom are more adept at handling stress than others. But that does not reduce the psychological blow back of the outbreak.
Transmission
35% said they believe they could contract the Coronavirus from a pet’s skin and fur.
Facts: Animals have tested positive for COVID-19, and it is known that the Coronavirus can survive on the skin or fun of animals. Currently, however, there is very little evidence that the virus can be transferred from animals to humans via physical contact.
Threat level
Nearly half of the respondents estimate that COVID-19 would have catastrophic consequences for the world, whereas most of the remaining half also view it as a major threat but just not as extreme. A paltry 3% think of it as a minor threat, whereas 2% consider it is not a threat at all.
Facts: A little fear is a good thing, especially since we know so little about the virus. And no country or person is immune from this rapidly escalating health crisis. The struggle to understand COVID-19 is still in its initial stages, and it is safe to say that it will continue to spread indefinitely.
Duration Of The Pandemic
When asked how long the pandemic will last, respondents gave a split verdict. Around 38% estimate the current crisis to persist for a few more months, and an equal number believe it will continue longer and stretch out for more than the next six months.
Facts: It is expected that the threat of infection will remain prevalent until a vaccine is discovered—a matter of a year or more. Some scientists believe the virus is here to stay and that it could become a recurrent seasonal ordeal like the flu.
Fact Versus Fiction
As experts uncover more information about COVID-19, hopefully facts will eventually reign supreme over fears and misinformation. Meanwhile, it’s safe to say that the healthiest course of action is to rely on credible, unbiased, and objective sources such as the scientists, medical personnel, and organizations with specialists who have devoted their careers to studying and disseminating information on infectious diseases. Good news comes from a recent poll showing that a majority (58%) of citizens are concerned about moving too quickly to loosen restrictions and that the health and safety of the American people are at stake. From everything we know to date, until more information and treatment are available, scientists insist that the motto of “Stay Home, Stay Safe,” is the message to heed on the path forward.