We have all fallen victim to fake news and fabricated stories on social media, more so during the pandemic. In fact, in the past month alone, we have seen a few Covid-19-related death stories circulating online.
First came the news of the 16-year-old and now its about a three-year-old preschooler.
Only this time, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has promptly called it out.
A recent Facebook post which claimed that a three-year-old died from COVID-19 in Singapore has been refuted as “completely untrue” by MOH.
Calling out the viral post, MOH said in a statement on Saturday (14 August) that the viral post was “a total fabrication.”
Facebook Post Claiming 3-Year-Old Died From COVID-19 Is Not True
If you recall, just recently a Facebook post by user Eileen Loh circulated online alleging that a three-year-old girl died due to COVID-19 at the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH).
MOH has clarified that these allegations are false that the death of the preschooler was “deliberately not reported.”
The ministry added that as of 14 August, no child is reported to have died from the virus at KKH or any other hospital in Singapore.
CEO of Temasek Holdings Ho Ching also took to Facebook to address the false allegations of user Eileen Loh. She urged the public to not circulate this fake news and that those who know Eileen Loh to “please alert her that is untrue and wrong of her to put out wrongful allegations.”
“Folks should always check with MOH for facts before starting to forward such dramatic allegations below,” said the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
She added, “I don’t know whose picture she used, but that is also a hurtful thing to do.”
POFMA Instructed To Issue A General Correction Direction To Facebook
Image source: iStock
After the circulation of this false news, MOH on Sunday (15 August) stated that health minister Ong Ye Kung has instructed the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) to issue a General Correction Direction to Facebook.
This is a Direction issued to prescribed Internet Intermediaries, prescribed telecom and broadcast licensees, and/or prescribed permit holders of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act that requires them to communicate, publish, broadcast or transmit a correction notice to Singapore users.
Therefore, Facebook will be required to carry the Correction Notice about the fake news to all end-users of the platform.
“We urge the public to refrain from spreading rumours and misinformation,” said MOH.
Lead image source from Facebook / Ministry of Health, Singapore and iStock.
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