Hit by Coronavirus Panic? Look for Data Not Drama, Experts Say

Hit by Coronavirus Panic? Look for Data Not Drama, Experts Say
Also ran in U.S. News & World Report

“One of the most stressful aspects of this outbreak is the uncertainty and ambiguity that surrounds transmission,” said [Roxane Cohen] Silver, who’s professor of psychological science at the University of California, Irvine. … “What is likely to be unhealthy is the spreading of rumors and misinformation, which often creep in during uncertain periods,” she said. For many, endless cycling through cable news or reading specious posts on Facebook can prove harmful, not helpful. Instead, people should proactively “seek out information from authoritative sources,” she said, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), or your local department of health.