President Donald Trump touring a mask factory in May 2020; Trump did not publicly wear a mask at this media event. Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead via Wikimedia Commons
Does eating garlic protect you from the coronavirus? Can houseflies infect you with it? Does Covid-19 only affect the elderly?
Based on newly published research, one in five adults accepts these and other medical myths linked to the pandemic, a study involving Sydney’s Macquarie University has found.
In two separate studies, 1,737 people aged between 18 and 74 were surveyed about their attitudes towards a variety of claims – all without any factual evidence to back them –circulating in the media and on the internet about ways to catch or prevent Covid.
One study was conducted in the US and tested attitudes towards conspiracy theories and misinformation, including that 5G networks were spreading the virus or that coronavirus was a biological weapon.
Another study – conducted by a team of philosophy researchers from Macquarie University, the University of Hamburg in Germany and Groningen University in the Netherlands – found 20 percent of adults thought they were immune to the coronavirus because of their age, their diet and a variety of other myths.
“If 20 percent of adults think they are immune because of their age, their diet, or their skill with a flyswatter, they may resist sensible behavioural choices such as social distancing, masking, handwashing and being vaccinated,” said Dr Mark Alfano, an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Macquarie University.
“That in turn may lead them to infect both themselves and others – including others who are doing their best to stay informed and follow expert guidance.
“While it may be tempting to dismiss these ideas as misinformation endorsed by a minority of the population, the ongoing pandemic has shown that successful public health outcomes depend on everyone doing their part.”
Researchers found people who demonstrate indifference to evidence are especially likely to accept misinformation.
According to Alfano, one in five people surveyed were happy to tell researchers that they don’t much care about the reasons for and against what they believe, and that once they’ve jumped to a conclusion they’re extremely reluctant to change their minds.
“If we did the same survey here in Australia I wouldn’t be surprised if the results were similar,” Alfano observed.
“Staying informed can be challenging. After all, tsetse flies transmit sleeping sickness, so it’s not irrational to suspect that houseflies could spread Covid-19.”
“Likewise, what you eat affects your health, so it’s reasonable to think that dietary choices might make someone less susceptible.
“In addition, however, there are people who think the pandemic has been greatly exaggerated, that it was a hoax devised to harm former US President Trump’s re-election chances, or to increase the power and profits of the pharmaceutical industry.”
The researchers found that people who do not fall for Covid-19 misinformation have two qualities in common: they are curious and they do not cling to their views.
“Instead, they keep an open mind and change their views when they encounter evidence from trustworthy sources that contradicts what they previously believed,” Alfano explained.