“This is a time for facts, not fear,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as he cautioned against misinformation and panic about COVID-19.
Following the lockdown orders, people everywhere are self-isolating at home. With routines upended, we have our eyes glued to social media and mind fixed on the 24-hour news cycle. Casual conversations between peers and friends can easily lead to fear-mongering, further contributing to anxiety and stress. In such situations, we all have two choices: panic or plan.
The situation is difficult for everyone but unnecessary panic is counterproductive. Panic means being caught up in fake news without any considered action. In contrast, planning entails assessing the situation logically and acting on the information. To keep your business afloat during these trying times, equip yourself with the right information to help you chart your course.
Filtering out false information
According to the World Health Organization , the COVID-19 infodemic - the wide and rapid spread of misinformation - is just as alarming as the virus itself. Anyone with access to the internet can contribute to this infodemic by running a rumour mill on social media channels and messaging platforms, like WhatsApp and Telegram. The overabundance of fake news, twisted facts, and rumours can prove particularly dangerous for security companies, whose workforce may be exposed to heightened risks.
We all have a shared responsibility to act against this infodemic by filtering out false news in the industry and promoting information from credible sources. Hence, to connect security professionals worldwide with the most relevant guidance and statistics, ASIS has compiled a list of security resources , broken down by region.
International Resources
The World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
The United Nations: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus
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Region |
Security Resources |
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Asia |
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Africa |
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Europe |
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Latin America |
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Middle East |
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North America |
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Oceania |
This list aggregates all the sources that security companies need to get the latest updates.
If any essential agencies or sources are missing, please email ASIS at covid-19@asisonline.org for consideration.
For additional COVID-19 resources, please visit the ASIS International Disease Outbreak: Security Resources page.
To detect fake news about COVID-19, cross-check the information on Poynter Resources that unites more than 100 fact-checkers around the world in publishing, sharing and translating facts. Set-up COVID-19 Alert on Google or use WHO online information platform for credible information.
To read more on how COVID-19 impacts your security company, read our blog here.
