ONE OF THE things that marks the novel coronavirus out as being different from other illnesses is the speed at which information about it has been spreading.WhatsApp messages, videos, memes, Facebook posts and tweets which make claims about the virus being found in Ireland have been shared widely, particularly in the past week.
This is not to say that there won’t be a case. Simon Harris said last night that the government has been planning for a case since January, while Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said at a briefing this morning that it is anticipated that a case will be confirmed in the Republic of Ireland. “Trust in institutions has been decreasing year on year for some time now and this was before social media. If there is an outbreak, then such skepticism – of institutions, of possible vaccines, of entering public places like supermarkets – only furthers the problem.”
The text accompanying the video has generally identified it as being a named hotel on Pearse Street in Dublin’s city centre, and says that there has been a case of coronavirus in the building. Some versions of it say that it was taken by a garda. Others say that the hotel is now in lockdown. “I’ve had a situation last night where many people sent me a Twitter video showing a hotel in Dublin locked down. Not true,” he said.
The government’s approach to communication around the coronavirus is that it will only confirm any details when there is a real case, and will not say anything to confirm details, dates or locations of suspected cases where patients are tested. This is designed to prevent panic and the spread of misinformation; but in the absence of information, it also allows for videos like this to be spread.
The National Public Health Emergency Team has been meeting regularly, and a special Coronavirus Expert Advisory Group was formed, which is a multidisciplinary group with experts from differing specialities. In the story, which remains viewable on the Irish Examiner website, one line says: “Senior sources have said that a ‘media blackout’ is being advised and the HSE, when contacted, offered no comment to our queries.”
“Because people are largely distrustful of the HSE or Irish health management, so when local officials encourage people not to become overly cautious – for legitimate fear of whipping up hysteria – people assume it’s the State being negligent [rather than] action based on expert advice,” said Reilly.
St caitrionas in glasnevin. Spread the word. There might be less misinformation if we were given a bit more actual information. CoronaVirusUpdate Coronavirusireland
Why not tell ppl the name of the school thats been closed
The hospitals are over run with suspected cases, why the complete media blackout
Something tells me the so called misinformation is more credible that what the HSE and MSM has been drip feeding us
Why are people so dumb and naive
And it's working. I was told a pack of lies as absolute truth by a youngish man who I have always previously considered very sensible. There was no arguing with him.
2.3 m workers going to get shafted again in Ireland fc€k FG
SAKE
SorchaPollak The past participle of ‘get’ is ‘got’ (unless you’re aiming you tweets at an American audience. Call yourselves a journal? You may want to consider hiring the odd journalist or two.
Is it true there is a ward in st James's hosp with 6ppl
Forget Coronovirus for a minute, can we have a list of eligible men that single women can propose marriage to? Today is 29 February!
Heard there is a ward in st James's hosp with 6 patients in it.
I agree and I didn't until after the test , then I got the talk.
No. But I got one.
We don’t live in America.
This is why China has strict policies on sending unverified information, which is why the doctor who broke the news on WeChat was subjected to the police investigation. This fake news only tries to further divide and cause chaos among people.
It's not like our government have ever tried covering up before
Some people would believe anything, see the support SFIRA got in the recent election as evidence.
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