The Fear Endemic Of Covid-19: Myths, Conspiracy Theories And Cybercrime In The Coronavirus Multiverse

Abstract

From a risk communications perspective, using the name SARS can have unintended consequences in terms of creating unnecessary fear for some populations, especially in Asia which was worst affected by the SARS outbreak in 2003. For that reason and others, WHO has begun referring to the virus as “the virus responsible for COVID-19” or “the COVID-19 virus” when communicating with the public.