Keep Calm and Manage the Coronavirus Feed

“They did say you could get the virus through the eyes”

There’s no worse time than today to cause mass hysteria rapidly in the midst of a potentially world-demolishing event. And as we’re currently in the middle of this s**t storm we call the Coronavirus pandemic, we’re also bombarded with an overload of information about the viral outbreak, from by-the-minute news reports of rising infected numbers worldwide to your friends’ Instagram stories of grocery shelves devoid of instant ramen and toilet paper.

The average hyperconnected individual is exposed to multiple mobile, computer and television screens daily, actively and passively looking at a near-infinite feed of (mostly) virus-related bad news. It’s hard for us overstimulated screen addicts not to feel like the world is going to implode into a blackhole of hopelessness, despair and death.

Or in this case, a green-hole of viral infection filled with paranoid, sinophobic, fat people who, for months, have overstuffed themselves with app-delivered pizza, hamburgers, and, ironically, greasy Chinese food.

But it doesn’t have to come to this. Our emotions don’t have to be at the mercy of what we see, read and hear from our media feeds. Likewise, we also don’t have to be blind to what’s happening in the world by blocking the feeds either.

I got this tidbit of actionable advice from the book “The Daily Stoic”:

“Control your perceptions. Direct your actions properly. Willingly accept what’s outside your control.”

Sounds derived from the Serenity Prayer of course, but it’s pretty sound philosophy to use to when coping with, well, most things in life.

And using that philosophy, I’ve devised an easy-to-follow framework to keep yourself sane amidst the onslaught of information from your very busy media feeds during this pandemic.

Step 1: Just Embrace the Feed

Just let the tide of information flow across your screens as per normal and take in what you see, from the usual newsroom streams to your paranoid friends’ FB messages, and yes, possibly even the news pieces that are either sensationalized or bordering Trumpian-levels of fake.

Specifically on COVID-19, the best way is to get a constant stream of valuable information is from the major news outlets. Why? Because they’re covering it 24–7, and more likely than not, they’re probably going to be more objective and well-researched than, say, a blog article or a Facebook post shared by your quirky uncle.

Here are a few news sites I frequent for my daily dose of Coronanews:

• BBC & CNN (and their local affiliates) — for general global updates
• Channel News Asia — for the Singaporean brand of god awfully bland, but very pragmatic objectivity
• CNBC & Bloomberg — business news, you’ll get panicky about your diminishing stock portfolio value, but maybe opportunistic enough for you to buy more (Prof Galloway interestingly suggests going for Carnival Cruise shares)
• LinkedIn’s Coronavirus Official Updates — which captures official announcements from governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in addressing the virus.

Step 2: Be aware of misinformation. Be aware of your biases

Now let’s get to addressing the fake and sensationalized news. I would delegate this step more for wishy-washy sociopolitical topics. Although the Coronavirus should be a black and white issue (i.e. it’s bad, it needs to be contained, it’s NOT a bioweapon etc. etc.), there’s still ton of misinformation out there, from absurd conspiracy theories to subtler sensationalisms.

Here are some interesting examples in varying degrees:

• Wuhan Virus Originated from Bat Soup — Unfounded but rapidly sensationalized, and racially charged. I almost fell for this one.
• The Virus will Stop in Warm Weather? — I actually believed this fact for a short time. Until Trump said it multiple times. I guess he’s my reverse fact-checker now.
• And this gem that says that the Pandemic is Fake — the web address is already a dead giveaway.

Be aware of them. They’re dangerous in their own right to different people. But even if you’re a normal, thinking reader of this post, some of the more subtle ones will exploit on your biases, whether your xenophobic about certain Asian nationalities or you hold some level of blind nationalism towards your own country that you think they’re doing a fantastic job containing the virus with their “low” infection numbers (yes, I’m talking to you my fellow Filipinos).

If you’ve encountered some possibly fake news around the virus, go to FactCheck.org or Snopes.com and do a quick search.

Also here a useful rundown of debunked claims from the New York Times.

Step 3: Have the wisdom to tell what is pragmatic, actionable information

Unless you’ve decidedly (or pragmatically) been living under a rock for the past month, you should already generally know what the virus is all about, how’s it’s spreading, and how you can keep yourself from being an infected virus monkey.

It’s still good to stay informed with current developments, but now you should focus on information that’s actionable. Here’s some that could be useful

• This neat CNA interactive Coronavirus Map — to help you manage your travel plans, but hopefully NOT to further stoke your xenophobia
• The World Health Organization’s Advice for the Public — and watch the smart, bespectacled, fancy-accented lady dish out some truth
• This Vietnamese Government PSA turned TikTok Dance Challenge — and get a dose of Last Dance Syndrome while washing your hands

When in doubt, consider the source. If it’s not a major, reputable news organization, an expert with an MD or PhD or professionals who are in the front lines of the virus, or a government or NGO you can trust — approach it with skepticism.

Step 4: Know what you can’t control, and have the serenity to accept it

We have to face it. The Coronavirus is part of our lives now for the next 18 months until a vaccine is produced for mass distribution. And all we can do is keep ourselves healthy, hygienic, and socially responsible.

So if you want to read / listen / watch some content that will give you a sobering, but pragmatically optimistic outlook in these trying times, here’s a couple of suggestions:

• BBC’s Podcast Corona Virus special — BBC panel of experts answer people’s questions — a full lowdown of the scientific, political and social aspects of the outbreak.
• Netflix’s eerily timely released “Pandemic” Series — Quite a holistically approached documentary series that covers the wide range of POVs around viral epidemics. Warning, you may suddenly feel some sympathy for the anti-vaxxers. Some, but not much.

Obviously, the COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing event, and there will be a continued barrage of news, non-news and fake news in the coming year.

But for now, I hope this helps. And don’t forget to xoa, xoa, xoa your hands!

@im.quangdang, you’re a champ!

I am so dancing my way to the sink right now.