Goro Health Center

Communicating early about COVID-19 With sensational global media coverage about COVID-19, health authorities should be prepared to communicate about the threat, even if there are no cases within their borders. Based on amount and tone of news coverage, people around the world are worried, although most are not currently at-risk. The purpose of sharing information about the virus is to ensure the public has early, primary information about COVID-19 from credible sources. If the government does not speak out, less accurate and non-credible sources are likely to fill the void B. Communicating about COVID-19 in the Midst of Uncertainty  The COVID-19 epidemic is moving and changing quickly. A major challenge to effective COVID-19 communication is that we don‘t know everything we need to know to help people protect themselves.  In addition, information that is uncovered over time may be different than at the beginning of an emergency and also different than originally anticipated, based on past experience.  In the context of a frightening new virus, and uncertainties about its source, severity, incubation period, and transmission; credibility is the most powerful asset that health agencies have.  Order to influence people to follow public health recommendations, agencies will be successful to the extent that they have the public‘s trust. That means communicating with the public early and often, in the midst of uncertainty.  It means telling the truth—what is known about the situation and what is unknown. It also means explaining what health authorities are doing to get answers, and the assurance that when new information is available, it will be publicly shared C. Communicating to Lower the Public’s Concern and Fear about COVID-19  When there is a confirm case in country, public perception changes dramatically. Public perception of COVID-19 outbreak has been driven largely by media descriptions, including words such as ―deadly,‖ ―galloping,‖ and ―extraordinarily grim.‖  The emerging picture is frightening. When unfamiliar health threats emerge, many people react with high levels of concern, even when their individual risk of infection is