How to Find Reliable Information About Coronavirus

The coronavirus outbreak, also called COVID-19, is causing a lot of fear and uncertainty throughout the world. In a time like this, it's extremely important to have the most reliable information available. Unfortunately, with the internet...

Method 1 of 3:

Finding Reputable Websites

Check the Centers for Disease Control site for new about the US. The Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, is the United States' federal health agency. Its website has a dedicated page for coronavirus news that is reviewed by health professionals and is updated constantly. It provides information on the virus, steps that the US and local governments should take to prevent the virus from spreading, and ways you can protect yourself. It's the main website for Americans to get good information about the situation.^{[1] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source}
1. The CDC COVID-19 page is https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.
2. The CDC site is also good if you're outside the United States. It has technical details about the virus and steps you can take to prevent it that are useful no matter where you are.
Use the World Health Organization website for international news. The World Health Organization, or WHO, oversees the worldwide coronavirus situation. WHO has monitored the virus since it first broke out, and its doctor have considerable experience with the situation. Go here for information verified by health experts throughout the world.^{[2] X Trustworthy Source World Health Organization Health information and news provided by the World Health Organization Go to source}
1. For WHO's dedicated coronavirus page, visit https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019.
2. The page has a Situation Report tab where you can read the latest news from WHO.
3. Scroll down the page for videos explaining how you can protect yourself and others from catching the virus.
Listen to instructions and updates from your local government site. Besides national governments, state and local governments also maintain information pages about COVID-19. These pages usually present updates about measures your town or city is taking to contain the virus, so they're useful for learning how your daily life might be impacted. Follow any specific instructions or precautions that your local government gives you to protect public health.^{[3] X Research source}
1. In the US, sites that end in .gov are run and maintained by the government. These usually have the most reliable information.
2. Local websites are useful for understanding the specific situation in your area. Your hometown may not be very affected by the virus, for example.
Look for .edu or .org websites for more trustworthy information. These tags indicate either schools or professional societies, both of which are generally more trustworthy than .com sites. They're good sources of quality information about the virus and how you can respond to it.^{[4] X Research source}
1. While most .edu websites are reliable, .org websites sometimes aren't. Not all organizations have the best information available. Compare the information on these sites with other sites that you know are reputable.
2. A .org is best if it represents a health organization or hospital. For example, mayoclinic.org represents the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and hopkinsmedicine.org represents the Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
Search trustworthy websites for information rather than a search bar. A general internet search bar like Google doesn't always present the best information. Instead, they usually show you the pages that rank highest without assessing if the information is accurate. If you want to search for something specific, use the search tab on a site you know is reliable instead.^{[5] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source}
Follow health organizations on social media for real-time updates. Many health organizations like WHO and the CDC have Twitter and Facebook pages where they post information. These sites might be updated sooner than the organization websites, so follow and check these social media pages for the most up-to-date information.^{[6] X Research source}
1. Be careful with social media. A lot of false or unverified information can spread quickly. Only accept information from verified, reliable accounts to avoid believing rumors.

Method 2 of 3:

Getting Information Offline

Ask government officials if there are local precautions in place. If your local government is monitoring the situation, then they probably have instituted measures to prevent the virus from spreading. If you have any questions about these precautions, then try to get in contact with a local official like your mayor. They can inform you of the procedures in place and what you should do.^{[7] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source}
1. While government officials might know the latest procedures in place, they might not necessarily have the latest health information. Check with health organizations for specific details about the virus.
2. Most governments also post this information on their webpages, so you might not have to contact anyone directly.
Call your local health department if you have specific medical questions. Your local health department is probably monitoring the situation in your town or city. If you have questions about the virus or what to do if you're sick, then call the health department for this information.^{[8] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source}
1. Remember that health departments are extremely busy right now, so they may not be able to get to your question right away. It might be faster to check for updates online.
Talk to your doctor for more health information. If you have questions specific to your health, then your doctor is probably the best resource. Call the office and ask for the best strategies to keep yourself and your family healthy. The doctor can provide you with advice and dispel any rumors you may have heard.^{[9] X Trustworthy Source FamilyDoctor.org Family-focused medical advice site run by the American Academy of Family Doctors Go to source}
1. Remember that doctors might be overwhelmed from the number of patients they're seeing. Don't call too often for non-emergency situations, or you could be taking the doctor's attention away from other patients.
2. If you think you may have COVID-19, then call your doctor and tell them before you come in. They may want you to go right to the hospital or contact the health department instead of coming into the office.^{[10] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source}

Method 3 of 3:

Assessing the News

Be suspicious when you first hear a news report. News cycles move fast, and different networks might be in competition with each other to release a story first. This sometimes leads to fact-checking mistakes. Use caution whenever you hear news and wait to see if official organizations confirm this news.^{[11] X Research source}
1. For example, if NBC reports that the coronavirus can infect cats, wait a little while to see if any other networks report on this or if the CDC releases a statement. If not, then this news was probably inaccurate.
Confirm stories with multiple sources before believing it. Most news networks have access to the same information, so they tend to report on similar news. If only 1 news network releases a story, then that's a sign it might not be accurate. Check if other networks are reporting a story before you believe it as fact. Better yet, check an organization site like the CDC for similar statements. This can verify the news as true or false.^{[12] X Research source}
1. If Fox runs a story one night but no other networks report on it within a few hours, then it's a good bet that this story isn't accurate.
2. Even if multiple news networks are running a story but the CDC or a similar organization hasn't confirmed it, then be suspicious. Sometimes 1 network running a story sets off a lot of speculation in the media, which could spread inaccurate news.
Check if stories were written or reviewed by a doctor. A lot of non-medical professionals are commenting on the situation. While some might be well-informed, others might not have the latest or best information. It's best to look for articles written or reviewed by a doctor so the news is medically accurate.^{[13] X Research source}
1. Some stories also quote or interview doctors. This is also a good thing.
2. It's helpful to investigate the doctor as well. For example, if a doctor on TV lost their license in the past, then their information might not be the most trustworthy.
Use the most up-to-date information as long as it's reputable. The coronavirus situation changes constantly, so news that's only a few days old could already be outdated. Check back on reputable sources regularly to see if there are new precautions you could take to stay healthy.^{[14] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source}
1. Remember that news organizations like to get information out quickly, so they might make fact-checking mistakes in the process. Only use the most current information available from reputable sources like government sites or health organizations.