Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was recognized as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. However, the median age of laboratory-confirmed cases is about 45 years and age is not a sole potential risk for catching COVID-19; unfortunately, some social media pretend that elderly people are more likely to be infected by COVID-19. Providing such information about the COVID-19 can increase the stress and anxiety among the elderly that may weaken their immune system. It is suggested that social media provide appropriate information to reduce public stress.
Keywords: Ageism, COVID-19, discrimination, elderly people, public health, social media, pandemic.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v8.i4.652] [PMID: 32149049]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25748] [PMID: 32134116]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15274] [PMID: 32239784]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11357-014-9631-6] [PMID: 24562499]