DOI 10.15641/ghi.v3i1.891 Global Health Innovation, 2020, 3(1) article 1 Commentary Page 1 of 3 Digital health communication in South Africa during COVID-19 Jaydon Farao * Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Received 7 May 2020; Accepted 13 May 2020; Published online 28 May 2020 On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global pandemic as the world experienced the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to 144 countries (World Health Organisation, 2020a). Te disease resulting from the virus – coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – had already overloaded the health systems of many nations. In South Africa, which confrmed its frst positive COVID-19 case on 5 March, the pandemic has resulted in extreme measures to prevent its spread, including a national lockdown and various restrictions on movement. It has also resulted in one of the most widespread health communication campaigns since the HIV epidemic during the 2000s. Terms such as “social distancing” and “fattening the curve” have become part of our communal vocabulary due to the extent of health messaging. Te communication on practical preventative solutions, such as hand- washing and alternative greeting practices (Prem et al., 2020), has also been shared widely in an easy-to- understand manner. Te WHO specifcally emphasises the accurate and timely communication of essential health information as imperative to curbing the spread of the virus, and how important such communication is to shifing behaviours and perceptions (WHO, 2020b). In addition, accurate and authoritative information, which inspires trust, is important in combatting the spread of the virus. Tis has meant innovation in digital health communication. Shortly afer the declaration of the pandemic, South Africa’s National Department of Health (NDoH) launched COVID-19 Connect, a Whatsapp helpline to provide up-to-date, accurate COVID-19-related information. Te platform recorded more than 3 million users in its second week of operation (turn.io, 2020), demonstrating both the desire for accurate information during this health crisis and the extent to which digital health technologies can reach people through common communication pathways such as Whatsapp messaging. Te service is available in fve of the ofcial South African languages and provides information regarding case updates, myths and prevention methods, among others. Te helpline is accompanied by a dedicated COVID-19 government online resource portal (https://sacoronavirus.co.za/). With the progression of the pandemic worldwide, and the multiple sources of information that have arisen in its wake, countries have had to contend with another health problem, termed an infodemic (Zarocostas, 2020). Tis refers to the overabundance of information, both accurate and not, making it difcult for people to discern and access trustworthy and reliable health resources (WHO, 2020b). South Africa has not been protected from this threat with a range of false news being spread, from claims about contaminated testing kits to speculation about home remedies and cures. One of the ways in which the NDoH has attempted to mitigate the infodemic, is through the amplifcation of experts’ voices in its communication with the public. Tis was most efectively demonstrated in an address to the nation, which was not only broadcast on national television and radio on 13 April 2020, but was also accessible to the public via Zoom, an Internet-based video conferencing and collaboration tool (https://www. * Corresponding author: frxjay002@myuct.ac.za © 2020. Te Author(s). Published under a Creative Commons CC-BY License. http://Journals.uct.ac.za/index.php/GHI