COVID-19 – Useful information: fake news, psychological support, keeping in touch remotely

• Be wary of fake news on COVID-19

No, SARS-CoV-2 wasn't created from HIV in a laboratory! A new controversy has emerged in the past few days following online claims that SARS-CoV-2 resulted from a human error in a BSL-4 laboratory in Wuhan. While carrying out research on an HIV vaccine, scientists are said to have accidentally let this new virus escape. One piece of evidence held up to support the theory is that the SARS-CoV-2 genome contains sequences that correspond to HIV, a hypothesis that is said to have been validated by an Indian scientific publication.

Consult the Institut Pasteur's rebuttal

We would remind you that if you receive any questions, messages or malicious calls following fake news stories like this, there are details on Webcampus of the procedure to follow to report them.

 

 

• Psychological support

The occupational psychologist is available for any issues relating to prevention or psychological support during this period.

• Prevention: reorganizing priorities when working from home, teamwork difficulties, identifying resources, etc.
• Support: dealing with uncertainty, feeling lost, disruption, exacerbation of anxiety and worries, isolation, etc.

Practical details:

The occupational psychologist is available:
-  Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
- 9am to 1pm, and 2 to 6pm
Sessions can be carried out in French or English, and your confidentiality will of course be respected.

You can make an appointment by email: irene.cottin@pasteur.fr. Please indicate your availability and provide a contact number.

If necessary, outside these times:The French government website has a list of support numbers
 
The Jean Bergeret Regional Institute, with the support of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Health Agency (ARS), has published a list of organizations that offer a therapy service by telephone.

 

 

• Keeping in touch, remotely!

Supporting and guiding you remotely during this extraordinary period is important, that's why this Webcampus page contains a host of ideas on how to keep in touch, chat, share your thoughts, develop your skills and escape the daily routine – remotely!

Although the day-to-day reality of this unprecedented situation is very different from one Institut Pasteur employee to the next (lockdown, working from home or coming to campus for priority activities), one thing remains essential for our community, and that is to cultivate a spirit of solidarity and to keep in touch with colleagues, teams and contacts.

Check out the information already published:

Maintaining a sense of team spirit (March 27, 2020) (in French)Continuing to develop our skills (April 3, 2020) (in French)

Developing good email etiquette (April 10, 2020) (in French)

Keeping moving and escaping the daily routine (April 24, 2020) (in French)