The Ministry of Health (MOH) has recently put the brakes on two persistent pieces of misinformation circulating online about COVID-19 in Singapore.
Clarifying Autopsy Claims
In a press release issued on 3 June 2024, the MOH addressed a false claim that Singapore was the first country to conduct an autopsy on a COVID-19 victim, suggesting that the virus was a bacterium instead. This misinformation originally emerged in 2021, but has made a surprising comeback.
“This is false. As clarified by the ministry then, Singapore has not performed such an autopsy, and it is also not true that COVID-19 is caused by a bacterium,” the MOH stated.
Vaccination Laws Rumours
Another claim suggested that new laws mandating vaccinations had been passed in Singapore following the recent visit of Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft. The ministry was quick to reject this assertion: “Singapore has not passed any laws on vaccinations after Mr Gates’ recent visit to Singapore,” it clarified.
Keeping the Public Informed
MOH urged Singaporeans not to disseminate unverified information, highlighting the potential alarm such falsehoods can cause in the community.
Current COVID-19 Landscape
- The surge in COVID-19 cases has been noted, with recent data showing the main variants in circulation being LF.7 and NB.1.8.
- These variants account for over two-thirds of locally sequenced cases.
- There is currently no evidence that these variants are more transmissible than earlier ones.
For the latest updates and information, the public is encouraged to visit the official MOH website at www.moh.gov.sg.