Information You Need: Credible COVID-19 Sources
Everyday, there is an overwhelming amount of COVID-19 information being released. This daily influx of new information can make it difficult to distinguish credible information from non-credible information. In addition to receiving your COVID-19 related information from AZCOVIDTXT, there are other reliable and accessible sources that can be found in the table below. There are also other sources (e.g., blog and social media posts, news sources, and YouTube videos) that release COVID-19 related updates. While some of these sources can be trusted, it doesn’t hurt to confirm the information by checking a credible source.
Types of Information | Credible Sources |
General information (prevention, guidance) | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The World Health Organization (WHO) Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) University websites Harvard University of Arizona Arizona State University |
Data (cases, state-specific numbers) | The COVID Tracking Project Arizona Department of Health Services Data Dashboard John Hopkins COVID Resource Center |
Other credible sources: | NPR’s Coronavirus Page Other credible sources can be found at this link |
Always verify information from these sources with a credible source |
Blog posts News articles: Some may have correct information, but it is best to confirm with a credible source Social media posts: Unless posted by a credible source Youtube videos: Unless posted by a credible source |
Warning signs that help identify misinformation |
Claims about: Easy treatments or cures for COVID Certainty – the science of COVID is still evolving – scientifically based information will not be presented with 100% certainty A product that is for sale Misinformation may play on your emotions instead of facts so look out for: Personal stories or evidence presented as a “fact” that comes from only one person’s opinion Stories that use general sources – “some doctors say” or “people are talking about” Fake accounts – things that look like a news account from a good source may be a fake – check for things like a change from .gov to .com Determine if the same things are being discussed from multiple reputable sources If it is a science-based article try to determine if the article has been through peer-review (the process by which other scientists assess the methods and conclusions of the work before it gets published to make sure it is good science) or if it is a pre-print (pre-prints are a way to get science out faster before peer-review) |