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COVID-19: Avoiding Misinformation and Conducting Credible Research

This guide intends to offer a bit of guidance on where to look for credible information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how to avoid misinformation where possible.

International/National Level Authoritative Information

  • World Health Organization (W.H.O.)
    •  W.H.O purports to be the "global guardian of public health". More than 7000 people from more than 150 countries work for the Organization in 150 WHO offices in countries, territories and areas, six regional offices, at the Global Service Centre in Malaysia and at the headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
      In addition to medical doctors, public health specialists, scientists and epidemiologists, WHO staff include people trained to manage administrative, financial, and information systems, as well as experts in the fields of health statistics, economics and emergency relief.
      • International scope, travel guidelines, country and technical guidance, updated reports/statistics, ongoing research
  • European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
    • ECDC is an EU agency aimed at strengthening Europe's defences against infectious diseases. The core functions cover a wide spectrum of activities: surveillance, epidemic intelligence, response, scientific advice, microbiology, preparedness, public health training, international relations, health communication, and the scientific journal Eurosurveillance.
      • ​Recent updates, risk assessment documentation, data visualizations, public guidance, white papers
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    • From their website, this organization is focused on "protecting America's health, safety, and security". The CDC is a science-based, data-driven organization focused on protecting the American public. There are several offices/organizations under the purview of the CDC, including: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Deputy Director for Pubic Health Service and Implementation Science (DDPHSIS), Deputy Director for Public Health Science and Surveillance (DDPHSS), and other institutions devoted to researching and combating infectious and non-infectious diseases. 
      • Guidance on symptoms/actions to take, printable materials to raise awareness, searchable COVID-19 FAQ