COVID in Appalachia: Misinformation is killing people

An NBC reporter interviewed frontline workers in a number of hospitals in Appalachia about their recent experience with the coronavirus and the people in their area. Bottom line: Misinformation from people the patients trust is resulting in unnecessary illness and death.

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“One nurse told me stories of otherwise healthy 30 year-olds coming in short of breath and not understanding why. She tries showing them chest x-rays and explaining evidence of the disease, but often they don’t believe they have COVID until they’re in critical condition.

“Another nurse told me some come in severely sick with COVID, but when they test positive they blame the hospital for giving it to them. There’s a popular conspiracy theory that hospitals are benefiting financially from COVID. But in fact, many are struggling to stay afloat.

“Ultimately, politicization and misinformation around COVID are having tragic real-world consequences. People are dying because they don’t seek medical care when they begin having symptoms. They don’t believe they’re sick. And by the time they get to the hospital it‘s too late.

Read more: https://forwardky.com/covid-in-appalachia-misinformation-is-killing-people/