In Moldova, among the assertions about COVID-19 made in the public sphere, the least believed one is that the novel coronavirus is spread through 5G antennas. Only 12% of the population consider this is true, while 59% believe this is not true. The others don’t know or didn’t hear about this. The assertion with the highest level of perception among the people is that COVID-19 is not more dangerous than an ordinary flu and everything is done intentionally in order to destroy the country’s economy. Half of the population believes so, shows a sociological survey commissioned by the association “WatchDog.MD” Community to CBS Research.
Civic activist Valeriu Pașa, “WatchDog.MD” expert, in a news conference at IPN said the level of perception of the assertions about COVID-19 depends a lot on the responsibility, efficiency, exemplification and quality of communication in the crisis period, including the authorities. As regards the assertion that the virus is spread in Moldova through 5G antennas, Valeriu Pașa noted that even if this information has been most widely disseminated online during the last three weeks, only 12% consider this is true. “Of the fake reports and conspiracies concerning this pandemic, this assertion is believed the least,” stated the expert of “WatchDog.MD”.
The survey of the impact of misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic on the public opinion shows that 31.4% of those polled do not believe that the novel coronavirus was created in an American lab from where American soldiers brought it to China. 37.2% believe the virus was created by China.
The assertion that this type of coronavirus was created by rich people so that the population is vaccinated is believed by 37.8% of those surveyed, while 34.6% consider this is not true. 27% of the respondents believe in the connection between the pandemic and masons, while 34% don’t believe in this. The assertion that the people are infected when they are tested, through infected test kits, is believed by 29% of those interviewed and is considered false by 44%.
The assertion that the European Union will fall apart owing to the pandemic seems credible to 29.7% of those polled, while 51% think this is not true. 33% believe the European countries failed to properly manage the crises generated by COVID-19, while 37.6% believe that this is not true. 32.7% of those surveyed believe the coronavirus is a myth, while 55% believe COVID-19 exists.
22.2% of the respondents consider vitamin C can cure the people of COVID-19, while 58.9% said this is not true. The assertion that the first woman diagnosed with the novel coronavirus ran away from a hospital in Italy and brought the epidemic to Moldova is considered false by over 50% of the respondents.
The population’s confidence in official sources was also affected during the pandemic. 9.4% of those questioned consider the authorities say only lies. “When the current government fuels all kinds of conspiracies and misinformation, they set a trap for themselves as, having the predilection to believe all kinds of fake reports during the pandemic, the people turned their back to it and no longer believe it. In fact, these conspiracies now fuel concrete distrust in the current government,” stated Valeriu Pașa.
The opinion poll covered a sample of 1,003 persons older than 18 and was carried out by phone during May 5-11, 2020. The survey results can be seen online, on the website of WatchDog.MD.
