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Rumors make matters worse in trying times

“Please stop the spread of rumors.”

That’s the plea that recently accompanied confirmation of the first positive test for the COVID-19 virus of a person living in Lycoming County.

It was made by Jeffrey L. Hutchins, director of the county Department of Public Safety, who said: “We are aware of earlier un-confirmed reports being shared on social media. The staff of the county’s department of public safety is in contact with our state agencies (the state Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency) 24-7. Our staff will share any confirmed information as soon as it becomes available.”

It’s bad enough that this public health crisis is hitting us at every turn. Do we really need to battle the technology-enabled rumormongers too? Sure, there are many people who have been told to stay home and “self quarantine” for any number of reasons, but that does not mean those people have the coronavirus. And even if they did, what good does it do — who does it serve — to spread unconfirmed information of this nature on social media?

Let’s not fan the flames of panic that has already emptied grocery store shelves. Let’s heed the words of Mr. Hutchins: “Only share confirmed information, which can be found at health.pa.gov or cdc.gov.”

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