Infodemic: Chaos and conspiracies in Iraq and Austria’s populist Covid-19 denier
Welcome. We are tracking how disinformation is shaping the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, it’s Coda’s reporter Katia Patin with the latest narratives — both real and fake — that have grabbed our attention and deserve yours.
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Since early summer, coronavirus numbers have risen sharply in Iraq. Government statistics now routinely confirm between 4,000 and 5,000 cases a day. Although the wearing of masks is widespread in the country, it has been difficult to make people take the disease seriously. After all, economic collapse and dysfunctional politics provide fertile ground for conspiracy theories. In fact, many still believe that the pandemic could be an excuse for authorities to clamp down on basic freedoms and delay the payment of already long-awaited public sector salaries.
This week, our team spotted a number of fresh rumors concerning infrared thermometers. In Ukrainian group messenger chats, parents are sharing the false story of two high schoolers dying from blood clots after repeatedly having their temperature taken. In Kenya, Facebook and Twitter users allege that non-contact thermometers damage the brain’s pineal gland. The common thread is a confusion over how these devices work, with many erroneous posts saying that the thermometers emit infrared radiation, rather than what they actually do, which is measure it.
Turkmenistan continues to offer a fascinating example of how a country addresses a pandemic, while completely denying it is even happening. The most recent reports from foreign-based opposition media say that teachers are awarding students fake grades and submitting made-up time sheets. Across the country, schools have voluntarily cut classroom hours — and some subjects altogether — for public health reasons. However, since coronavirus doesn’t officially exist and there was no government order behind these measures, teachers are forced to pretend, at least on paper, that they are still working as normal.