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As the world fights the deadly COVID-19 pandemic \\u2013 the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War \\u2013 we are also seeing another epidemic -- a dangerous epidemic of misinformation.\\nAround the world, people are scared. They want to know what to do and where to turn for advice.\\xa0\\nThis is a time for science and solidarity.\\xa0\\nYet the global \\u2018misinfo-demic\\u2019 is spreading.\\nHarmful health advice and snake-oil solutions are proliferating.\\xa0\\nFalsehoods are filling the airwaves.\\nWild conspiracy theories are infecting the Internet.\\nHatred is going viral, stigmatizing, and vilifying people and groups.\\xa0\\nThe world must unite against this disease, too.\\xa0\\nThe vaccine is trust.\\xa0\\nFirst, trust in science.\\xa0\\nI salute the journalists and others fact-checking the mountain of misleading stories and social media posts.\\xa0\\nSocial media companies must do more to root out hate and harmful assertions about COVID-19.\\nSecond, trust in institutions \\u2014 grounded in responsive, responsible, evidence-based governance, and leadership.\\nAnd trust in each other. Mutual respect and upholding human rights must be our compass in navigating this crisis.\\nTogether, let\\u2019s reject the lies and nonsense out there.\\xa0\\nToday I am announcing a new United Nations Communications Response initiative to flood the Internet with facts and science while countering the growing scourge of misinformation -- a poison that is putting even more lives at risk.\\xa0\\nWith common cause for common sense and facts, we can defeat COVID-19 -- and build a healthier, more equitable, just\\xa0and resilient world.\\nThank you.