Spread Facts, Not Germs – Navigating Information About COVID-19

Art by Mark Reinhart

It can feel like information about COVID-19 is constantly changing. This is partly because it’s a new virus; recommendations are changing as new studies are published. But, the most important recommendations about how to stop the spread of COVID-19 have stayed the same. It may also feel that way because of the volume of information that is available. With 24/7 news cycles and information being shared through social media, it can be difficult to sift through it all and decide what’s reliable.

As you make decisions about what to read, listen to, or share, here are some useful tips to keep in mind:

Focus on & share information from reputable sources.

  • Reliable sources of information for Chatham-Kent residents include CK Public Health, Government of Ontario, Public Health Ontario, Public Health Agency of Canada
    • These organizations are up-to-date on the latest information and know how to assess the quality of studies and their findings
  • Keep in mind that the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) is American, and their recommendations may not reflect the context in Canada, Ontario, or here in Chatham-Kent

Read past the headlines.

  • Remember people create posts to try to get engagement and will write headlines to get you to share the post, even if it’s not really true
  • The findings of studies are sometimes over-stated when reported on – if you can, visit the original source of the study and read about any limitations the authors note
  • If reading a news article, try to go to the original source of the information. For example, if a news article reports on something the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario says, go to the Government of Ontario website to read the recommendations first hand

 Pay attention to & share recommendations that are specific to Chatham-Kent, Ontario & Canada.

  • Refer to sources of information that are appropriate for Chatham-Kent
  • Recommendations in other regions or Countries may be different
  • The context (i.e. public health measures that have been taken, whether people are socially distancing, population density, etc.) may be different in other regions

So, what are good sources of information?

The best information comes directly from the source. For quality information about COVID-19 and measures to take to stop the spread, visit: