Coronavirus: World Health Organisation tells people to stay at home and play games
Advice comes after WHO added 'gaming disorder' to its list of diseases
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The World Health Organisation has urged the world to stay at home and play video games.
The UN agency, which is helping lead the fight against coronavirus across the world, joined up with developers to urge people to stay indoors and play together online, rather than in real life.
The move is part of an attempt to encourage people not to spread the virus and help limit the impact of covid-19.
It comes after the WHO named "gaming disorder" as a specific disease, in a decision that caused some upset to some gamers. It warned then that while the disorder only affects a small number of gamers, everyone "should be alert to the amount of time they spend on gaming activities", especially if it was happening to the exclusion of other activities.
Now Raymond Chambers, the WHO's ambassador for global strategy, said that games could be an important way for people to follow public health guidelines. He also thanked the gaming industry for their part in the new project.
"The games sector will launch #PlayApartTogether, an initiative to inform and encourage their vast network of users to follow the WHO's important health guidelines-including physical distancing, hand hygiene and other powerful preventive actions to slow the spread of COVID-19," he said. "Through this unifying hashtag, companies will encourage conversation within their games and on social media."
The initiative has been supported by companies from across the gaming industry, which together represent many of the world's biggest games.
“It’s never been more critical to ensure people stay safely connected to one another," said Activision's chief executive, Bobby Kotick. "Games are the perfect platform because they connect people through the lens of joy, purpose and meaning. We are proud to participate in such a worthwhile and necessary initiative.”
The companies have committed to integrate the messaging into their games, as well as to run special events online. Those will be collected under the #PlayApartTogether hashtag, the WHO said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments