Coronavirus (Covid-19)

[ABSpareEditor]

There's lots of information going around right now about coronavirus (COVID-19), and not all of it is accurate - with some of it not having any truth to it at all.

We want The AnswerBank to be a safe place and we are therefore implementing a no-tolerance policy towards misinformation about coronavirus.

If any member posts information about the virus from unreliable sources, or with no link to a source, this will be removed. Please rely on the below links from the NHS for information on the virus. If you use other sources for information you post on The AnswerBank, please ensure this comes from a reputable source.

- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

- https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19

[ichkeria]

I hope this approach will be used wisely.
Generally a forum is not the worst place for things like this as misinformation can quickly be debunked by links to snopes etc
Worse are the Facebook rumours etc which get copied and multiply like viruses

[Tilly2]

Thanks, Spare Ed. Can you do anything about all the insults and personal attacks that seem to be proliferating on AB?

[woofgang]

Thanks Ed.

[Tilly2]

I take the no reply as a 'No' then, Spare Ed.

[THECORBYLOON]

TILLY, the EDs could be busy doing other things mind.

[Gromit]

Is President Trump a reliable or unreliable source?

[-SharonA-]

Daily Mail ok?

[THECORBYLOON]

Could this be posted as a closed "sticky" in News and Body & Soul so that we are all aware of this policy and the helpful links?

[Spicerack]

Are all the mods virologists?

[douglas9401]

I know of at least one who definitely isn't, Spicerack, but he gave dodgy advice a short time ago, about 21:30 on Sunday last.

It's been removed but I wonder if it might be better to let folk remedies remain but debunk them repeatedly as a public service.

[JimF]

"Daily Mail ok?"

Spare Ed is asking for links to be from reliable sources, so obviously not.

[Spicerack]

2/3 weeks ago the official advice was 'go to the football' etc.

If someone had suggested it was more serious and people should self isolate, they'd have had their answer removed under these rules.
(and called names by the AB intelligentsia)

[AuntPollyGrey]

This is very welcome advice. Only information and advice from trusted sources should be taken seriously, backed up with a link. I have said this for the last week and got bombarded with criticism for questioning the validity of information given by anonymous posters, with no evidence to back up that information. I hope people will realise that there are folks reading this stuff that are worried sick, and being anxious as well as vulnerable is not helpful to overall well being.

[jno]

Are all the mods virologists

yes, it's one section of the mods' training schedule, along with self-defence against biting insects and troll-hunting by night.

[pixie374]

I have to agree with ich, open and honest posting will be far more informative, as any random ideas someone has will quickly be put right with, usually, explanations. And there may be others with the same theories that would benefit from reading about them specifically.
On AB, you can't even put a comma in the wrong place, without at least 200 ABers noticing... so, I would have thought transparency is safer than a lot of removed answers.

[Spicerack]

The wisdom of, crowds.

[ladybirder]

Totally agree Pixie.

[woofgang]

pixie the problem with leaving stuff up is you don't know what people will read...its entirely possible that someone will read the incorrect information/advice and not the refutation.

[pixie374]

Maybe... I wouldn't do that on an NHS site, or a medical site. But this would seem to be a good place for people to be able to learn something. The warning is clearly there to see a GP rather than get definitive answers here.

[Peter Pedant]

// Is President Trump a reliable or unreliable source?//
you mean I really cant get it from a lavatory seat in a public toilet?

the ed is referring to my post where I say you are chained to the bed with only a can near if you are c-virus positive
she didnt like the bit where I said - they shpot the dog
wrong and cruel that was
;ethal injection

I think it is sensible - well done ed
bear in mind in Law ( which I agree isnt redolent with drugs and doses ) we think that as many as zero have ever taken the Law advice proffered

hasnt stopped us blaaaarting long and loud