Abstract
The mysterious COVID-19 phenomenon has become an infodemic. This study aims to understand the communication phenomenon of the devious virus critically. Employing thematic analysis and framing theory, the study analyzed the editorials of Dawn and the Hindustan Times published from March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2020. After rigorous mining of the data, using open and axial coding, four major themes came out, which are (1) Shutting down the country, (2) COVID-19 and economic trauma, (3) Health management challenges, and (4) countering the infodemic. The findings indicated that most editorials added to people's knowledge about COVID-19. The editorials informed the policy-makers and citizens on pandemic issues like the need for lockdown, severeness of infectious disease, drastic consequences on the global economy. This study is an addition to the COVID-19 communication literature that helped decode the COVID-19 communication phenomenon from Pakistani and Indian newspapers' perspectives.
Highlights
IntroductionUniversal epidemics' danger deems the most crucial threat
In contemporary human civilization, universal epidemics' danger deems the most crucial threat
This study focuses on the editorial section of two mainstream Indian and Pakistani newspapers––Hindustan Times and Dawn
Summary
Universal epidemics' danger deems the most crucial threat Epidemics pose a fatal risk that can slay over 25% of a population (Morens, Folkers, & Fauci, 2004). The world is suffering SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2), a global pandemic, the infection resulting in COVID-19 disease (World Health Organization, 2020). This contagious disease has some indications, including dry cough, fever, problems in breathing, aches, throat pain, and some people will experience running nose and diarrhea. As reported in many media reports, Wuhan's seafood market in China is allegedly suspected as the locus of the COVID-19 pandemic
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