THE NEWS that Boris Johnson is in intensive care sparked a consistent reaction, through society and from all parts of politics. 

Boris Johnson is our nation’s prime minister; we wish him well and we need him back, leading us through one of the most testing times in modern history.   

I have received many messages from East Hampshire residents, wanting to pass on their good wishes to him and his family.

Although we know that most people experience a relatively mild form, his case reminds us anyone can catch this terrible virus.

It has been a time of immense worry for so many families with loved ones badly affected; and we are all conscious of those who have had loved ones taken from them.

Medics and key workers are doing remarkable things to care for and protect us all; everyone’s appreciation is heard in the applause that rings out.

Though socially distanced, we feel an extraordinary togetherness.

I know the message of gratitude Boris would want to convey to those working on the front line, and to thank every single person who is staying home, helping to save lives.

And as the coronavirus crisis continues, I would urge people to ignore disinformation being spread about the pandemic.

You’ve probably seen on email or social media things like the ‘Stanford internal memo’, ‘Internal email for staff in St George’s Hospital’, or guidance from ‘Japanese doctors’.

They can sound plausible and from a reliable-looking source.

Much of what they say may be right, and sounds familiar. Much, but not all.

Some of the ‘advice’ these concocted social media posts contain – like drinking lemon juice or sipping warm water every 20 minutes – might not hurt you, but won’t help either.

Other suggestions out there definitely can cause harm.

Deliberate spreading of false information is not new.

What is new is the growth of private social media groups and WhatsApp.

False news is much harder to spot and stop on these channels.

If someone passes on something to 25 people in their WhatsApp groups, and those 25 each pass it on to 25 more, and that happens a further three times, that message reaches almost ten million people.

So debunking a myth three days after it starts is way too late.

That’s why the director general of the World Health Organisation said “We’re not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic.”

The government’s Rapid Response Unit is tackling a range of harmful narratives online.

A new campaign, ‘Don’t Feed the Beast’, encourages people to question what they see.

I would recommend that residents get the information from only trusted website such as nhs.uk, gov.uk, the BBC, and a trusted regular national or local paper. For more information visit my website at www.damianhinds.com/social-media-and-disinformation.

* By Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire and former education secretary