COVID-19: Virus or Viral Conspiracy Theories?

A novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV2 has attracted considerable attention in the past three months, unlike its sisters the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and the disease it causes has been termed “coronavirus disease 2019” (COVID-19). The mortality rate of COVID-19, however, is lesser than that of SARS and MERS. Then why does COVID-19 seem to be a scarier pandemic than any before? Is it a serious virus outbreak or a sort of violence that has perpetrated across communities? The outbreak of the virus itself feels like it’s happening in your own home. This article attempts to understand the reasons for the widespread attention received by COVID-19. To do so, it briefly presents what is known so far about the SARS-CoV2 virus. After that, it explores whether the media has played a role in the widespread and perhaps exaggerated attention directed at COVID-19. At the dawn of 2020, several pneumonia cases were reported in the city of Wuhan, China, that were caused by a novel coronavirus.


Introduction
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) [1], the virus quickly spread to more than 101 countries, infecting 110,000 people and killing 3,853. In general, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause flu in humans. Toward the end of 2019, a novel strain of the coronavirus family called SARS-CoV2 was found to infect humans [2]. It is worth noting that coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted from animals to people [3].
SARS and MERS have also been proven to be zoonotic. The current indications show that SARS-CoV2 is transmitted through bats mainly. These viruses pose threats to the human respiratory system, and thus, people with lung damage or respiratory problems are more susceptible to being infected by these viruses. Between 2003 and 2004, SARS killed nearly 10% of the 8,096 infected people in 29 countries [4]. A total of 774 people died according to the WHO [5].
MERS was considered more deadly, claiming the lives of about 34% of the infected people [6]. naviruses. The main concern pertaining to SARS-CoV2 is that no treatment or vaccine has been found for it yet. However, this is not the case with influenza. Moreover, indications exist that COVID-19 might be more contagious than normal influenza [8]. Given the current epidemic and limited understanding of the epidemiology of COVID-19, understanding why the disease has created widespread panic and brought our day-to-day activities to a halt is important.

Opinion
Since the COVID-19 outbreak in late December 2019, stock markets have plummeted, tourism sectors have been affected, and videos of panic buying across the globe have been circulating on social media platforms. Media scholars can compare this scenario with the infamous 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio hoax broadcast by Orson Wells that resulted in mass hysteria in the United States of America [9]. The powerful effect of mass media as it emerged from the late 1800s to the 1940s, theorizing the "magic bullet" approach to understand the influence of mass media, seems to still exist on social media platforms and not outdated as many claim it to be. Mass manipulation can also still be performed but by now using advanced technological tools. Previous research (Oliver & Wood, 2014) identified the tendency of conspiracy theories to arise during times of crisis, such as periods of political instability, economic threats, and public health crises, creating even more chaos.
The same is applicable to virus outbreaks, as was the case with the 2015-16 Zika virus outbreak. According to conspiracy theories, the virus outbreak was the result of a biological warfare rather than a natural occurrence [10].
It should be noted that people who believe in and promote conspiracy theories on social media do not trust powerful groups who they consider to be withholding information, such as politicians and drug companies. If the public does not maintain trust in governmental organizations, they are less likely to follow any medical advice or procedures. Further, with the circulation of conspiracy theories, people may be more likely to develop negative attitudes toward and interpretations of preventive measures. They may even use dangerous alternatives as treatment, which will most likely increase the possibilities of the virus spreading and thus endangering more lives. Therefore, public attitude is extremely relevant to the current spread of conspiracy theories in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak. Alternative healing approaches to coronavirus are also being promoted among social media users. Some Twitter and Facebook users have claimed that the virus can be fought by drinking bleach products while others have called for a more herbal-based approach for protection. In some countries, calls for national Friday mass prayers have been circulated for protection from the virus [11].
It should be noted that conspiracy theories can be detrimental to social peace and harmony, as they can not only influence people's health choices but can also instigate xenophobia in societies, triggering violent social behavior [12]. The COVID-19 outbreak has led to a worldwide increase in discrimination and racist attacks targeted at people perceived as East Asian. The new #JeNeSuisPasEnVirus With the spread of the hashtag among Asian communities, the impact of conspiracy theories is becoming more evident. Online talk forums and discussions have implied that other world powers are targeting Asia, specifically China, to bring down its economy and weaken its global growth and expansion [13]. Although it has not yet been labeled as a pandemic by the WHO, COVID-19 has spread across the world. China's economy has already taken an enormous hit due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Exports from pharmaceuticals to cell phones have been declining, and manufacturing disruptions are causing massive supply chain problems worldwide.

Am J Biomed Sci & Res
Copy@ Ghada M Abaido Therefore, are Intervening and Halting the Spread of Conspiracy Theories Related to COVID-19 Possible? In addition to taking prompt action to combat the spread of SARS-CoV2, governments need to step up their measures to prevent the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories related to the virus. In doing so, fake news circulation can be significantly reduced. Heads of state, senior government officials, health and medical experts have taken to social media to reach out to vast audiences using platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and live streaming to disseminate relevant information and live updates. Over the past few years, since the emergence of SARS and MERS cases, the international community has made significant progress toward preparing for and mitigating the impacts of pandemics. The global community has realized the urgent need to collaborate to develop a unified global policy to detect, report, and respond to various outbreaks.
Sealing off nations or concealing information from the local and international community is not feasible anymore. Transparency and collective efforts will reform the shape and redefine the meaning of globalization again. Swift health policy action is also required to ensure sustainable health measures and preparedness globally. The upcoming years will most likely witness a surge in scholarly articles related to COVID-19 from the scientific, medical, and health fields; there shall also be an abundance of multidisciplinary research approaches and studies theorizing and analyzing this epidemic from various perspectives.