COVID-19, also known as the novel Coronavirus, is a respiratory disease caused by a new virus, which saw a massive outbreak in Wuhan, China, and the spread globally. With more than 2 million confirmed cases and more than 100,000 deaths globally, the Coronavirus is spreading like wildfire. However, the spread of the deadly virus and government lockdown in most of the countries worldwide have also given room for the circulation of false information and rumours.

To ensure that you get the most accurate information in these unprecedented times and to counter any misinformation online, we have created a list with contextual resources that provide real-time dashboards, up-to-date data, guidelines and also help you understand how the virus works and the go-to websites for reliable news on the subject.

Also read: Here’s how your PC can help find a cure for the Coronavirus

World Health Organisation

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is an international authority — part of United Nations — that specialises in the health sector and contributes towards the protection of people worldwide during medical emergencies. The organisation has been dedicated to curbing the spread of various health issues such as Polio, Smallpox, Ebola, Zika, among others, over the past six decades to provide better public health.

WHO has been at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19 to internationally coordinate efforts in dealing with the situation. Their website provides detailed information on COVID-19 and suggestions for public and healthcare workers on how to prevent its spread.

Visit the WHO website here

Centers For Disease Control & Prevention | USA

CDC works on detecting and responding to new and emerging health threats such as COVID-19. With a very minimal approach, the website answers basic questions like how to protect yourself or what to do when you’re sick? It also provides various checklists for daily life like a household checklist, how to care for children and pets, and what to do to deal with stress during this outbreak. This website can be a go-to site for US citizens as well as people across the world to get a better understanding of what actions should be taken to deal with the current situation.

Visit the CDC website here

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | India

The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare portal is the most reliable source for the current information on the COVID-19 in the country. It showcases government initiatives and advisories, training material for essential workers and the relevant directory for public health facilities.

Visit MHFW website here

Indian Council of Medical Research | India

ICMR is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. It is an agency that aims to conduct, formulate and implement biomedical research for the betterment of the society and find treatment for various diseases through medical innovation and research.

The ICMR website is one of the most credible resources for COVID-19 information in India. It gives you information about testing laboratories and strategy. The site also provides action guidelines for public and healthcare professionals such as guideline for the management of pregnant women in a pandemic.

Visit ICMR website here

Google Information & Resource Centre

Google information and resource centre enables you to access COVID-19 information, safety and prevention tips, data and insights. It also provides resources that can be of help, which include what you can do during lockdowns like cook, workout, draw, and even some coping techniques via yoga for these stressful days.

Visit Google I&R centre website here

Real-Time COVID-19 Dashboard | John Hopkins University

The real-time dashboard by Johns Hopkins University is a must-have bookmark in a COVID-19 world. This live dashboard has the latest numbers for the Coronavirus cases, deaths, recoveries, and more, sorted by country or state and district, which updates in real-time. This dashboard also gives insights on how the COVID-19 cases are spreading around the world and does flattening the curve works, with accurate data mapping.

You can also find detailed reports by experts and researchers from the esteemed university alongwith necessary information and FAQs on COVID-19 to understand the virus better.

Visit the COVID-19 dashboard by JHU here

Accurate Reportage & Infographics

Visual Capitalist | The History of Pandemics

On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, and if you are looking to dwell into the history of such catastrophes, Visual Capitalist is an excellent source that’ll inform you about the history of pandemics. The publication gives thorough insights on COVID-19 topics such as visualising what it does to your body, virus treatment in development so far, country-wise ranking on virus preparedness, and which countries are flattening the curve.

The website also has some good reportage on the economic fallout of the crisis.

Visit the Visual Capitalist here

Alt News | Indian fact-checker

At a time when misinformation is rampant, Alt News — a fact-checking website — is committed to debunking misinformation that we encounter daily on social media as well as mainstream news.