Call for scientists and health professionals to provide COVID analysis on breaking news
With our entire economy and way of life at a near standstill from COVID-19, and one person dying in the US every 30-60 seconds during peak outbreaks, people are desperate for accurate news and information they can trust. But in a deeply divided political and emotionally charged environment, is it possible to receive objective information? Can we ever get the straight story without political bias?
Today, we are announcing a call for scientists, health professionals, and associated content experts to contribute to Viral Feedback, a non-profit, non-partisan platform for scientists, health professionals, and associated content experts to provide high quality and data driven analysis of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19-related news reports, government actions, breaking scientific papers, and other media.
This analysis is provided by writing annotations as a layer over original articles to provide additional context, validate claims, or provide data to demonstrate that a statement is poorly supported by current scientific expertise. Through a new web standard using open source technology, these annotations are visible in context.
This model and its underlying technology are already in use within the climate science community at climatefeedback.org which has been using Hypothes.is to annotate climate-related research and news coverage since 2014.
Science is an evolving process. What we know today may change based on what we learn tomorrow. Viral Feedback strives to bring current scientific perspectives to social media and news stories based on the most recent data and emergent findings.
If you are a qualified scientist or doctor who would like to write to improve the public’s understanding and response to COVID-19 by providing non-partisan analysis, we would love to hear from you.
You can sign up to volunteer by filling out this google form.
Examples of annotations that address common questions including the following:
Is COVID-19 worse than the seasonal flu? How bad really is COVID-19?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/LI_nVgl5Eeu-gvcIqPhVaA
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/m4r4bAQkEeufL5uF1r7SHA
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/Ddm7uBoqEeuYTg8jqneFmA
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/9E_fYPIfEeqnBbvF7rfGvw
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/xwxb9vIUEeqyYkfQLFVv-w
What do we know about vaccines?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/UQzeNiEREeuOEmtUaUroCQ
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/NIy3nCnZEeu9mZfuNOLHDA
Do masks work?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/qafKaPOqEeqtyY9wZES2HQ
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/xxIxPvIUEeqEsI8HOnrGIg
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/OXxl4MSyEeqXretys2gNDQ
Are lockdowns worth it?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/Ny--0ilHEeuf81-a0br3zA
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/szhLir-rEeq3JvP_Z5lIOA
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/_NGorBPHEeuQbAP_FCWm4Q
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/h5fadApUEeuCh6sIaQ_nTw
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/h4yMFApUEeundC83Tw-eqA
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/gUSO7hpCEeuz9Ws9MnraMQ
How is COVID linked to mental illness?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/jCV27CQ5EeuqXf94BcMH_w
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/Ny--0ilHEeuf81-a0br3zA
Should we let the virus infect the young while protecting the old or wait for a vaccine?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/qJ9LvvnWEeqLnL_4G61Zlg
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/ia_gKvbxEeqhS1fN-X8onQ
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/lXdZ2B6_Eeu4sPc7Hk5CJw
Is the false positive rate of PCR skewing the pandemic data?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/Dwng-P6-Eeq9HueziwDjKg
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/K12u_P0oEeqjJPcyXEd7Pw
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/b48WYvbDEeqFExdFY2BkFg
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/o7caMvRjEeqHmDPQw1o2kw
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/5YDLAvKhEeq-cJv0hbShqQ
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/xxvo5vIUEeql6aOtaZoOKg
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/Eb1SGM1YEeqf5-ekHzknTQ
What is the role of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in the pandemic?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/bjTvngmNEeuUsaNA0FME6w
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/xwxb9vIUEeqyYkfQLFVv-w
Does hydroxychloroquine work?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/LnWAmv3tEeqLAVOb0mW7zQ
How does immunity to COVID-19 work?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/O3X8NPlREeq9NddXWuGT8A
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/qtAqEuiqEeqFtaeFfL3DzA
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/pDri0ATbEeuCHhuXWU_YXA
Did COVID-19 exist before 2019?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/qsneMuiqEeqHAf9xW_QPhg
How many unidentified cases of COVID-19 exist?
https://viralfeedback.org/annotations/lw-vbt84Eeq6fDsM6HcrlQ
Interested in learning more? Check out the Viralfeedback.org blog!
