Webinar: Risk communication to prevent the spread of COVID-19: Countering the ‘Infodemic’

Trusted, accurate, simple, and widely shared risk information saves lives, particularly when it reaches ‘the last mile’ and is used by vulnerable communities. This is the case in all communities, all countries and all disasters, including during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
However, several weeks into this global crisis, it is also clear that a ‘parallel universe’ of rumour and false information is also active. It also has widespread reach and is influencing thinking and behaviour that could increase risk. This so-called ‘infodemic’ is a genuine threat to rapid prevention and early recovery in the face of COVID-19.

This webinar convenes representatives from government, the World Health Organization, the media and civil society. The panel will outline: examples of effective messaging; how this information is reaching and helping to protect vulnerable communities; and what can be done to counter mis-information that could put people in harm’s way.

This webinar is the fifth in a series of webinars on COVID-19 organized by UNDRR’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. As the first region to be impacted by COVID-19, Asia-Pacific has become the testing ground for innovations and solutions to tackle this global disaster.
 

We aim to use these webinars to distil in 60 minutes the most relevant information and actionable recommendations on priority topics to support countries in their prevention, response and recovery efforts. We will also share issue briefs on the webinar topics that capture emerging lessons and policy recommendations.