The NHS has teamed up with web companies to tackle coronavirus misinformation, including dealing with fake Twitter accounts and misleading claims about homeopathic treatments.

Google, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are working with the health service to help the public get accurate information and avoid myths and misinformation.

How to combat misinformation?

Facebook, Google, Twitter and TikTok are all directing UK users to the NHS website if they search for coronavirus.

The NHS said that Twitter had also banned a fake account posing as a hospital, which was spreading misinformation about the numbers affected in the UK- although Sky News understands it had fewer than 50 followers.

The government has also announced a specialist unit to counter disinformation and liaise with social media companies.


Sir Simon Stevens, the health service's chief executive, said: "The NHS has already been battling coronavirus fake news, from working to take down false Twitter accounts to speaking out against misleading treatments being promoted by homeopaths online."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the NHS strategy was crucial in enabling the public to "access reliable, accurate health information" as the outbreak grows.

"These changes will ensure the latest trusted NHS guidance sits at the very top of Google search lists, so people can be reassured they are reading official, up-to-date government advice," he said.

Image: Google has included a 'help and information' section beneath its news bar

It follows the Advertising Standards Authority's action against two adverts for facial masks which it said were "likely to cause fear" and made "misleading" claims about stopping the virus.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the UK stood at 373 and six deaths as of Tuesday morning.

England's deputy chief medical officer has said the country should expect "many thousands of people" contracting the coronavirus.

Speaking to Sky's Kay Burley@Breakfast, Dr Jenny Harries said: "We will have significant numbers in a way which I think the country is not used to... so large numbers of the population will become infected [with coronavirus] but because its a naive population, nobody has got antibodies to this virus currently."