As governments struggle to contain COVID19, public service announcements and communication must focus on making citizens accept that the illness is a reality, giving them the knowledge to prevent and treat the infection and debunking myths and fake stories which impact the effectiveness of the response.

This could save many lives

There is fertile ground for fake stories about Corona to thrive

If there is a thin line between love and hate, there is an even thinner line between fake news and reality, especially on social media.

While lockdown-induced mischief cannot be ruled out, there are other reasons fake news and misinformation thrives: low trust, information asymmetry, a culture of weaponizing information, life experiences, cultural beliefs, myths and fragile social cohesion.

Fake news of conspiracies against Africans and Muslims is too close to the reality of botched vaccine trials in northern Nigeria and two European scientists proposing that coronavirus vaccine trials start in Africa.

As a few West African countries such as Ghana and Nigeria begin to relax lockdown rules, governments, the media and civil society must intensify communications aimed at sharing factual information on coronavirus prevention and cure; building and keeping trust; and defusing existing and new prejudices.