The Beginning of this Link was Obscure

 
In January, a Belgian newspaper published an interview with Kris Van Kerckhoven, a general practitioner from a town near Antwerp.

The headline said that 5G was life-threatening. Another thing Van Kerckhoven said was a scientifically baseless claim that 5G might be linked to coronavirus. The newspaper removed this claim from their website, but to no avail.

This obscure interview became known to the rest of the world as it made its way through the internet.
 

A Tenuous Link was Made

 
At the time of the interview, 440 people were infected with coronavirus and 9 had died, mostly from the Chinese city of Wuhan. And since 2019, there had been a number of 5G cell towers erected around Wuhan.

The journalist asked if those things could be related, and Van Kerckhoven said that he had not done a fact check. But that fact was forgotten as the story took hold.
 

The Anti-5G Protesters Saw Their Chance

 
Dutch anti-5G protesters saw this as their chance to provide “proof”. They linked the article to their Facebook accounts. From there, English speakers put this proof of dark business on their pages, too.
 

Engagement Algorithms Helped the Spread of Misinformation

 
YouTube and Facebook offered up videos and content posts about “the truth” and the usual, faithful echo chambers racked up views that only made it into a few thousand.

Engagement algorithms recognized that the content had potential to go viral, and helped it along. The algorithms could tell it was popular, but could not tell that it was misinformation.

Misinformation went beyond its usual echo chamber, even getting celebrities to join in.
 

The Consequences of 5G Exposure

 
A petition that got more than 110, 000 signatures claimed that the symptoms of exposure to 5G were similar to the symptoms of coronavirus.

5G was said to cause coronavirus symptoms, or to weaken the immune system to make you more susceptible. Some went as far as to say that the coronavirus shutdown was being used to install 5G towers. And 5G towers are being vandalized.
 

Old Conspiracies are Given New Life

 
Old debunked conspiracy standbys like “deep state” plots to foist vaccines on people, illuminati murder plots and non-ionizing radiation are being revived and added to the mix.

Usually going no farther than established conspiracy communities, the link with coronavirus gave it traction.
 

Uncertainty and Fear Leads to Conspiracy Theories

 
With the uncertainty and fear around coronavirus, conspiracies give an explanation and provides a scapegoat. This theory has gone mainstream, or at least outside the confines of the usual fringes because of social networks.

Social media seems to be hesitant to stop the misinformation that is rampant on their platforms. Misinformation and harmful content can be stopped as shown by content related to terrorism and child sexual exploitation being removed successfully.

There just needs to be a will to identify and remove this disinformation.

A Global Pandemic

 
The coronavirus gained its status as a pandemic as it spread exponentially around the world with notable crises in Italy with over 12 000 cases identified within three weeks. In response, Italy has taken extreme measures in an attempt to contain the spread by implementing travel bans as well as shutting down all shops with the exception of food stores and pharmacies. It is most likely that soon Italy’s situation will no longer be one of the few mass outbreaks with Iran, South Korea, and Milan – all well-travelled cities.

A mad scramble in the US has led to more new cases everyday as there are fewer testing kits than there are people. The historical decline of the stock market prompted President Trump to take the unprecedented action of providing $1.5 trillion in loans for banks along with a travel ban for all fights from Europe to the US, and waving health insurance fees for testing, among others. In addition, there is talk amongst the Democrats and Republicans to provide a sweeping coronavirus relief package for a new paid sick leave program, unemployment insurance, food assistance and free coronavirus testing.

Outside the government, American companies have been taking their own steps to prevent the spread, notably Disneyland closing its park and offering guests time, financial compensation, and assistance to make arrangements in their travel plans. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also stated that all gatherings worldwide, including worship gatherings, will be suspended in the midst of the pandemic.

Tips on Avoiding the Coronavirus

 
As an invisible menace to global health, there has been growing anxiety and panic as the virus spreads. However, the World Health Organization insisted that managing the virus is doable with governments taking the right course of actions. On the individual level, there are ways to minimize the risk of getting the coronavirus that include:

• Stay Healthy

First and foremost, keep yourself as healthy as possible to keep your body strong against the virus.

• Handwashing

Wash your hands regularly and properly with soap and water as often as you need and use alcohol-based sanitizers when soap and water aren’t an option.

• Self-Isolation

Anyone who has travelled to and from countries affected by the coronavirus should remain in self-isolation for at least two weeks to prevent accidental spread.

• Stocking Supplies

Ensure that you have regular housecleaning items, over the counter fever medication, tissues, paper towel, alcohol prep wipes, and other basic items in your home.

Faced with questions of whether or not the loss of revenue and disappointment of fans is worth the risk of further spread of the virus, those who put on the events have opted to consider health and safety first.

And it is not just up to those planning the events – gatherings of people are now becoming a matter of law, especially since the World Health Organization formally declared the coronavirus a pandemic.

The Trump administration recommended avoiding groups of more than 10 people, and state and local officials added their own restrictions.

Here is a look at some of the large cultural events postponed or cancelled in 2020:

The Coachella Festival has Been Postponed

 
Even a desert in southern California is not exempt from the Coronavirus.

Despite being a multibillion-dollar touring event, the organizers have postponed the musical festival of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival from April until October.

All the tickets purchased for April will be honored for the new dates in October.

Other Prominent Musical Events are Cancelled or Postponed

 
Glastonbury, a world-class music festival set for June in Britain was out-and-out cancelled. The South by Southwest music and tech festival in Austin, Texas, was another cancellation.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival that was set for April and May, was postponed until the fall, without specific dates given.

The Rolling Stones had a tour of North America scheduled to begin in May, and it was indefinitely postponed.

Classical Music Cancellations

 
In New York, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall cancelled performances, and will have no performances until the end of March.

Walt Disney World and Disneyland Closed

 
The Disneyland resort in Anaheim, California has only closed four times in its 65-year history, and the Coronavirus has caused one of those times. It is closed, at least until the end of March.

The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida closed on March 15^th and will remained closed until the end of March.

The only other times it had been closed was because of hurricane Matthew in 2016, Frances in 2004 and Floyd in 1999.

More Disney closures include Disneyland Paris Resort and Disney Cruise Line, with both being closed from March 15^th through to the end of March.

Cultural Events in New York

 
The Governor of New York called an end to all gatherings of more than 500 people, which has affected many of New York’s cultural events.

Broadway shows have shut down until April, especially since Broadway audiences tend to be tourists and an older, vulnerable demographic.

This will cost tens of millions of dollars for investors, associated businesses and artists, and will cost some plays and musicals their chance when they are unable to survive the losses.

If you had plans to go to any cultural events it is best to check to see if it is cancelled or if there is an alternate date given if it is postponed.