Summary of Rumor Risk Categorization in Guyana During COVID-19 Pandemic
| Rumor Characteristic | No. (%)(N=48) |
|---|---|
| Veracity | |
| False | 40 (83) |
| Unsure | 7 (15) |
| True | 1 (2) |
| Risk to public health or safety | |
| Major | 24 (50) |
| Moderate | 16 (33) |
| Minor | 8 (17) |
| Risk of individual physical harm or promotion of risky behavior | |
| High | 25 (52) |
| Medium | 16 (33) |
| Low | 7 (15) |
| Risk of stigmatization | |
| Yes | 4 (8) |
| Maybe | 3 (6) |
| No | 41 (85) |
| Recurring rumor | |
| Yes | 34 (71) |
| Don’t know | 5 (10) |
| No | 9 (19) |
| Speed of rumor | |
| ≥7 times per week | 2 (4) |
| 1–6 times per week | 35 (73) |
| <1 per week | 11 (23) |
| Overall risk score | |
| High (13–18) | 34 (71) |
| Medium (9–12) | 10 (21) |
| Low (6–8 points) | 4 (8) |
| EPPM category | |
| Low vulnerability, low efficacy | 23 (48) |
| High vulnerability, low efficacy | 14 (29) |
| Low vulnerability, high efficacy | 6 (13) |
| High vulnerability, high efficacy | 5 (10) |
Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus disease; EPMM, extended parallel processing model.