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Beliefs and Superstitions about COVID-19: Observations in India under Lockdown

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Title Statement Beliefs and Superstitions about COVID-19: Observations in India under Lockdown
 
Added Entry - Uncontrolled Name DUTTA, ANKURAN ; Associate Professor and Head, Department of Communication and Journalism Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam
 
Uncontrolled Index Term Superstition; Beliefs; Misbeliefs; Faith; COVID-19; Scientific Temper; Media; Lockdown
 
Summary, etc. In the diverse social structure that characterizes India, misbeliefs and superstitions are still as active as in earlier days. Social media in particular has been swamped by hundreds of beliefs and superstitions during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily 'infecting' digitally literate people who are unable to check the fake and unthinkingly pass on suspect messages going viral. Common people in general have been found wanting in responding to calls for greater awareness and necessary behavioural change towards adopting safe practices. Mainstream media in India has been largely playing its role in educating people about the pandemic and thereby contributing towards inculcating scientific temper, but more needs to be done. Five highly circulated superstitions and misbeliefs on social media about the coronavirus have figured in this observation, while public awareness campaigns like 'hoax busters' by Indian Scientists' Response to Covid-19 (ASRC) and 'Infodemic vis-a-vis Pandemic' by Dr. Anamika Ray Memorial Trust (ARMT) have been highlighted as the sort of responses that can be mounted to counter misinformation and superstitions.
 
Publication, Distribution, Etc. CSIR-NIScPR
2022-10-18 15:43:01
 
Electronic Location and Access application/pdf
http://op.niscair.res.in/index.php/JST/article/view/67307
 
Data Source Entry Journal of Scientific Temper (JST); ##issue.vol## 8, ##issue.no## 1-2 (2020): JST Vol.08(1-2) [January-June 2020]
 
Language Note en