Facebook’s Covid-19 info centre at your fingertips
By opting in, users can access real-time updates on the pandemic in their newsfeeds.
As part of its ongoing commitment to empowering people around the world with timely and accurate news from trusted health authorities, social media giant Facebook has created a Coronavirus Information Center which has now been expanded to 24 more countries across Africa.
The Coronavirus (Covid-19) Information Centre is featured at the top of a user’s newsfeed and provides a central place for you to keep informed about the Coronavirus.
It includes real-time updates from national official sources, regional and global organisations such as the Africa Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organization as well as helpful resources which include articles, videos, posts and tips about social distancing and preventing the spread of Covid-19.
Users can opt-in to the centre to receive notifications and see updates in their newsfeed from official government, regional or global health authorities.
Facebook’s Director of Public Policy in Africa, Kojo Boakye said Facebook is supporting the public health community’s work across the world to keep all communities informed during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are happy to provide nearly every country in Sub-Saharan Africa with its own information centre so people across the continent have a central place to find authoritative information around Covid-19.”
Countries where Facebook has launched the Coronavirus Information Center include South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Mauritius and Cameroon, among many others.
Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
