At the end of January, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the United States. Similar to previous outbreaks we’ve seen here in the United States including: the 2009 Mumps outbreak, the 2009 flu pandemic, the 2013 Ebola Virus epidemic, and the 2015 Zika Virus epidemic, we will eventually see an end to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
However, compared to these other viruses, COVID-19 is the first outbreak our country has handled where social media has increased the extent and rate to which information about the virus is being disseminated. Since the outbreak of the virus in China last December, information – some true and some not – has been wildly circulated via several social media platforms including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently told ABC news the COVID-19 outbreak has seen such a massive “infodemic”, otherwise known as an over-abundance of factual and nonfactual information, that it’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to find reliable guidance when they need it.
As such, health authorities are now teaming up with numerous social media platforms to not only crack down the spread of misinformation about COVID-19, but to also reach the right audiences since certain demographics tend to gravitate toward specific social media platforms.
Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok have worked alongside the WHO to establish strategies to combat this “infodemic”. For example, if users search for coronavirus on Facebook, they will be directed to the WHO or their local health authority for the latest COVID-19 information. Each of these platforms is also working to remove false claims on their platforms to better protect the public from misinformation.
It has also become evident that the massive and immediate spread of misinformation surrounding COVID-19 has created a lack of confidence that has shaken financial markets and triggered economic impacts for industries worldwide. While the financial impacts brought on by this public health crisis are being compared to the 2008 economic crash, it’s important to note that this is not a structural problem. Instead, it’s a confidence problem.
When it comes to funding, our homework has led us to believe that first and foremost, we should focus on investing wisely in testing, research, and access to testing kits in order to give health officials a solid understanding of how to combat the virus and eventually find an effective vaccination. As health officials continue working around the clock, I’m confident we will be successful in ultimately achieving each of these goals.
Economically speaking, we’ve already seen some of the immediate economic impacts COVID-19 has caused for larger industries, and as the situation continues to evolve, individuals, families, and small businesses are also feeling the economic side effects of COVID-19. This is why we must take responsible action to ensure individuals, families, businesses, and their employees are equipped with the tools they need to appropriately respond to any potential disruptions.
Congress and the Administration are continuing to work together to respond to these impacts. In fact, earlier this month, Congress passed and the President signed into law an emergency relief package to give our state and local partners the support they need to continue responding to the situation in their communities. Yesterday, the Senate passed another piece of legislation, adopted by the House earlier this week, that the President has also signed into law. This relief package expands testing for all Americans, provides paid sick leave for workers impacted by COVID-19, and gives small businesses the flexibility they need to care for their employees. As work continues on the third phase of emergency relief – the economic recovery portion – I will continue to update you with helpful resources and information as it comes out.
While we can never say mission accomplished, I would like to take a moment to compliment Governor Sisolak, our state and local health care providers, Federally Qualified Health Centers across Nevada, and officials from the Washoe County Health District, the Carson City Department of Health and Human Services, and the Southern Nevada Health District who have done an excellent job of having plans of action in place, navigating a situation that has changed rapidly, and doing everything within their power to ensure our communities are served well.
For additional updates on Nevada's response to COVID-19 and what to do if you're symptomatic, please visit the coronavirus section of my website by clicking HERE. I also encourage you to visit the new “Nevada Health Response” website which is specifically dedicated to Nevada’s COVID-19 response efforts including frequent updates, prevention, and preparedness information.
As always, thank you for subscribing to the Amodei Report. I look forward to continuing to keep you up to date on the issues you care about most. For additional information, please visit my website at amodei.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-6155, Reno office: (775) 686-5760, or Elko office: (775) 777-7705. To receive updates on what I am doing in Washington and in Nevada’s 2nd District follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
