Bulacan appeals to stop sharing fake news on 2019 Novel Coronavirus

CITY OF MALOLOS- The Provincial Government of Bulacan through the Provincial Health Office-Public Health appealed to the public to stop sharing fake news on Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease or the 2019-nCoV ARD and avoid creating panic and fear.

On Monday, the PHO-PH clarified that currently, there are no positive nor confirmed cases of nCoV in the province of Bulacan and that there is no reason to be hysterical.

Annie Mendoza, Provincial Communicable Disease Control Program Coordinator reported that as of today, February 12, 2020, from the seven persons under investigation (PUI), three were already discharged and tested negative, three are admitted and waiting for result while the remaining one person under monitoring at home.

Dr. Jocelyn Gomez, PHO-PH head said that spreading fake news in social media and text messages is not helping the province nor the country address the nCoV.

“Kumuha lang tayo ng update sa mga opisyal na page ng DOH at ng PHO,” Gomez said.

According to the report, 2019 nCoV ARD can be transmitted in human to human through coughing and sneezing of an infected person or close contact at home, work or health facility.

Meanwhile, World Health Organization advices the public to know the basic protective measures against the new coronavirus including washing hands frequently, practicing respiratory hygiene like covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs, and maintaining social distancing among others.

Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain from a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe that has not been previously identified in humans. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Moreover, PHO-PH started using #NotoFakeNews and #BulacanNCOVFree for all their posts and encourage the public to be vigilant of the true status of the said killer virus.