The best way to inform yourself is to fact-check posts from family and friends on social media, and articles you read that make claims without any sources.
Since the pandemic began, PolitiFact has fact-checked several inaccurate claims about how to prevent or treat COVID-19.
Additionally, the World Health Organization has set up coronavirus mythbusters section on their website.
When someone you know shares something false about the coronavirus, take the matter seriously. When you’re fact-checking someone, it can help to use language that isn’t too abrasive or belittling. A gentle approach can help the person you’re correcting see that you have their best interest at heart.
The backbone of any fact-check is its source list. The same goes for corrections on social media.
One 2017 study found that corrections of misinformation about the Zika virus were more effective when a source was provided. Fact-checks are even more effective when they come from expert sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization, which maintains a list of debunked coronavirus myths.
However, experts say the kind of source you use should depend on the person you’re correcting. Try to find a credible source that the person respects, and focus on facts, not values.