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UN Chief: A Second Pandemic of COVID Misinformation 'Putting Lives at Risk'

VOA News

   VOA NEWS - UnitedNationsSecretary-General Antonio Guterressaysthe U.N.
   is going tofloodthe internet and social media with facts and
   sciencetocounterwhat he says is a "dangerousepidemic
   ofmisinformation"aboutthecoronaviruspandemic.

   Guterres said the huge amount of falsehoods surrounding the illnessis
   a"misinfo-demic," full of bad health advice, lies,wildconspiracy
   theories and "snake oil solutions." He says all of this is a "poison
   that isputting lives at risk."

   He also spoke out against those who are "stigmatizing and vilifying
   people and groups"becauseof thepandemic, and hethanking"journalists and
   others fact-checking the mountain of misleading stories and social
   media posts."

   "Together, let's reject the lies and nonsense out there," Guterres
   said. "With common cause for common sense and facts, we can defeat
   COVID-19--and build a healthier, more equitable, just and resilient
   world," Guterressaid.

   The top U.S.infectiousdiseaseexpert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, toldthe
   Associated Press that when it comes to reopeningthe economy, the
   country "is not there yet."

   Intheinterview, Fauci said the nation still lacks what he describes as
   thecriticaltestingforsuspectedcasesandability totrack down everyone
   whocame in contact withan infected patient.

   "We have to have something in placethat is efficient and that we can
   rely on.'¦I'll guarantee you, once you start pulling back there will be
   infections. It's how you deal with the infections that's going count,"
   Faucisaid.

   PresidentDonaldTrump iseagerto reopen shuttered stores andbusinesses
   and getlocked-down people back to theirjobs.

   Heoriginallyenvisioned this week to restart the economy.He now says he
   would like toget thingsrollingagainby May 1. Fauci callsthattarget "a
   bit overly optimistic" at least for many parts of the country.He told
   the AP that once theoutbreakpeaks, he "would not be surprised" to see a
   second wave in the fall. But he said that is not inevitable.

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