"I hope you die." Scientists commenting on the pandemic were faced with an unprecedented number of threats

Dr. Anthony Fauchi. Photo: Stefani Reynolds / Keystone Press Agency / Global Look Press

Covid-19 pandemia made famous people who are not used to or did not at all strive for popularity. Not all of them were so lucky as the head of the New Zealand Ministry of Health Ashley Bloomfield . The recent survey by Nature revealed that of the more than 300 scientists who have commented on the media and social networks related to Covid-19, about 15% received threats to death. 22% - threats of physical or sexual violence. More than 60% of respondents have repeatedly encountered insults on social networks, they complained about the authorities, and the addresses of their houses appeared in the public domain. 6 respondents said they were attacked.

Some of these cases became public: after threats to the chief infectious disease specialist in the United States , Dr. Anthony Fauchi and his family members identified personal protection; The German virologist Christian Droen received a parcel with liquid, a “positive” was written on the bottle, and the accompanying note demanded her to drink; The Belgian virologist Mark van Rawn and his family was even settled in a conspiracy apartment after the military sniper threatened them escaped .

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