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As questionable medical advice circulates widely on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and other platforms, and rumors of a national lockdown have spread across group chats and text chains, the novel coronavirus has exposed Americans to a second epidemic that of fake news.

The World Health Organization is calling it an "infodemic": Nearly half of Americans say they've been exposed to at least some fabricated information about the coronavirus, a Pew Research Center Election News Pathways survey found.

Fake news is dangerous, even when its shared with the best of intentions. And in the midst of a public health crisis, it can lead to further harm. An Arizona man died Saturday after ingesting chloroquine phosphate, believing it would protect him from becoming infected with the coronavirus. The man's wife told NBC News she'd watched televised briefings during which President Trump talked about the potential benefits of chloroquine. Trump has minimized the risk the coronavirus poses to the country for weeks, even calling it a hoax overhyped by Democrats.

With misinformation pervasive on social media, the tech industrys ability to crack down on harmful content is being tested. Industry giants Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Reddit, Twitter and YouTube published a joint statement voicing their commitment to fighting misinformation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. Pop-ups and a new COVID-19 information center on Facebook, for example, have directed more than one billion people to resources from the WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and regional health authorities, the company said in a press release.

Theres still plenty of reliable information out there, though. Newsrooms across the country are working around the clock to ensure people can access factual information from legitimate news sources. Many publications have even increased accessibility by lowering their paywalls for coronavirus coverage.

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Editorial: Curbing misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic - The Daily Tar Heel