REACH 265 - View on how can we curb the spread of fake news in this pandemic (SK)
16 Aug 2021 (10am - 7pm)
REACH
[10:51 am, 16/08/2021] +REACH: Dear contributors,
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[10:59 am, 16/08/2021] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢
The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Sunday (Aug 15) invoked Singapore's fake news law in response to a Facebook post circulating online which suggested that a three-year-old pre-schooler had died of COVID-19 at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).
It comes a day after MOH debunked the Aug 14 post by a user known as Eileen Loh, which also claimed that the "Delta Plus" Covid-19 variant was now present in Singapore. The Facebook post had additionally insinuated that the child's death was deliberately not reported, and the Government had not been transparent in its daily reporting of Covid-19 cases.
The ministry reiterated on Sunday that as at Aug 14, there has been no case of any child that has died from Covid-19 at any hospital in Singapore. It added that the "Delta Plus" variant has also not been identified in any of the country's known Covid-19 cases.
💬 As responsible citizens, how can we curb the spread of fake news so we do not create panic among others while facing this pandemic together? How are you adapting to the current COVID-19 measures?
There were 50 new locally transmitted coronavirus cases reported on Sunday afternoon (Aug 15). Of the new cases, 30 were linked to previous cases and already quarantined, while another six linked cases were detected through surveillance.
The Covid-19 cluster at pre-school My First Skool in Chin Swee Road has grown to 31 cases, with 11 new cases reported on Sunday (Aug 15).
Meanwhile, the total number of patients in two clusters linked to public bus interchanges increased from 22 to 27. The Bishan bus interchange cluster has one new case, bringing its total to 10. The cluster at Sengkang bus interchange grew from 13 to 17 cases.
👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/moh-issues-pofma-correction-over-facebook-post-suggesting-three-year-old-died-of
👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/covid-19-cluster-at-chin-swee-road-pre-school-grows-to-31-with-11-new-cases
👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/some-concern-about-clusters-at-sengkang-and-bishan-bus-interchanges-but-commuters
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[11:03 am, 16/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: As responsible citizens, how can we curb the spread of fake news so we do not create panic among others while facing this pandemic together? How are you adapting to the current COVID-19 measures?
[11:03 am, 16/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: 1) By not spreading these fake msgs further
[11:03 am, 16/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: 2) Fact check with Gov sites
[11:04 am, 16/08/2021] +Caleb: Gov website need to have the updated info
[11:04 am, 16/08/2021] +Caleb: as a single source of truth
[11:04 am, 16/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: 3) Once facts checks out, go against the spreaders and "help them see the light" haha
[11:04 am, 16/08/2021] +Caleb: presented accurately and easy for citizens to understand
[11:09 am, 16/08/2021] +Thomas: If the victim can sue the spreader for mental and emotional stress, this is more effective
[11:17 am, 16/08/2021] +YT: We can all do our part by not forwarding posts or texts that have not been verified or are not from an official source. Many of us, including myself, have at one point or another, just conveniently forwarded messages without thinking. Perhaps if we can all be more conscious and think before we forward or share, then it would make it more difficult for fake news to spread.
[0:11 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
https://sg.yahoo.com/finance/news/the-world-may-never-reach-herd-immunity-against-covid-19-034417558.html
The world may never reach herd immunity against Covid-19.
[0:11 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
100% vaccination against Delta variants is required.
Hence Mandatory Vaccination is the only way to achieve it.
[0:12 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/covid-19-fiji-compulsory-vaccination-civil-servants-no-jab-no-job-2113456
Fiji civil service - no jab no job - Mandatory Vaccination for civil servants.
Many countries have join the rank to impose mandatory vaccination for various sectors to tackle covid pandemic and end the economic sufferings.
[0:17 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/covid-19-endemic-time-for-a-frank-conversation
Our public health experts name 2 groups that will be crucial in our endemic roadmap.
1 is the seniors and the 2nd is the children below 12 years old. Vaccination of both these 2 groups are imperative - for the endemic road map.
Don't be surprise mandatory vaccination will be on the way when US FDA grant the full and final approval.
[0:17 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/pregnant-mums-indonesia-face-health-risks-anxiety-amid-cases-maternal-deaths-linked-covid-19-2106191 Indonesia recommend vaccination for pregnant women against covid.
[0:21 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
This is the main reason why many in the last 20 percentile group refuse to vaccinate.
Misinformation about people that pass away after vaccination are being spread around in social media - frightening people to vaccinate.
Such misinformation go without challenge - and strike fear among people - whether elderly, and vaccine hesitant people - this holding back vaccination.
For government to successfully persuade this group of people, we must first tackle such misinformation.
[0:32 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. I have spoken to some elderly.
2. I also received information on why some educated people why some are still holding back on vaccination.
All express the same reason - that some people have died after 1st and 2nd jabs - but not reported in mainstream media. But social media reported such incidents.
They attributed the vaccination cause the death.
I told them if Vaccination is the cause of the death, it will usually be reported.
The death could be due to their existing illness.
But they say how come so coincidental - when after the jab, some people pass away.
So they say they are fearful to get the jab.
They fear vaccination trigger death - more than contracting the virus.
Unless we can reassure this last percentile group that those reported in social media are misinformation - we will have difficulty convincing this last group to vaccinate.
[0:38 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
One of my elderly family member - refuse to vaccinate despite many rounds of persuasion from all my siblings - because of this reason.
All my family members and siblings families members have Vaccinated except this elderly.
My brother say unless the vaccines are guaranteed not to cause death - then my elderly will be convinced to vaccinate - because he read so many misinformation on social media of such coincidental death.
[0:38 pm, 16/08/2021] +Rama: Government has to publicise the data for every cause of death to try and clear the air.
[0:43 pm, 16/08/2021] +Poh S. Lim: Tell them that vaccines guaranteed not to cause death.
If they are still alive, no harm done and now they’re protected.
If they die, then they will not be around to blame you, right? 😂
[0:46 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Unless government can guarantee vaccination don't cause death.
I say no used.
[0:46 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
My close friend comments:-
Then MOH should publish 0 person died from vaccination; x persons out of xxxx vaccinated had serious side effects. How many recovered etc.
Just state the facts.
Set up a channel for people to quiz the ministry if the messages they received were true, and ministry to post answers - like a fact checker resource site to debunk misinformation.
Esp those info which has been tagged as "forwarded" or "forwarded many times".
[0:47 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Agree.
[0:48 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
The only way is to impose mandatory vaccination - if US FDA grant the full and final approval.
This is one way the last hesitant people can be convinced to vaccinate - just like vaccines for smallpox, BCG, polio, diphtheria, measles, mumps rubella etc
[0:59 pm, 16/08/2021] +Timothy Low: Perhaps come up with a lucky draw for people to participate in testing their knowledge on the vaccine? It can be a simple multiple choice questions on safety/side effects and etc on the vaccine. Through the use of quiz and lucky draw maybe can lure people to spread the truth of the vaccines, debunk any false info and also indirectly encourage more people to be vaccinated.
[1:03 pm, 16/08/2021] +Timothy Low: Idea #2: Appoint a COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassador at each workplace to promote vaccination, debunk any misinformation and help to ensure SMM at workplace.
[1:05 pm, 16/08/2021] +Joseph Ong: After a while, when the carrot does not work, we need to use the stick....firmly.
[1:06 pm, 16/08/2021] +YT: After so many months of training, I personally have adapted very well to current Covid19 measures. In fact, I don't think it really affects me as an individual. However, there are businesses that are affected. With many working from home, businesses are wondering whether these so-called Work From Home employees are really working. Productivity levels have definitely come down. I see many people of working age wandering around, jogging, taking walks, in shopping malls, during office hours. Maybe they are on leave, I can't tell. But whatever it is. Many are taking advantage of working from home to slack off at the expense of the businesses and companies. Full salary, half the work and lots of leisure time at home. That's my experience so far. Can't reach people and even caught people going jogging at 9 plus in the morning when they are supposed to be "at work".
[1:08 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
My close friend comments:-
With the new differentiated rule to limit unvaccinated and partially vaccinated to only dine in at coffee shops and hawker centres only, many of them will start to face real problems - ie they are expected to report to work, and if coffee shops and hawker centres are not within vicinity of they workplace, they will be force to eat in the office pantry, own desk etc.
Then this becomes a loophole for transmissions unless there is mandate to vaccinate.
[1:09 pm, 16/08/2021] +Thomas: People who spread misinformation is with the intent to erode public confidence of our institutions and whatever information that comes from them. This is the first step to achieve a division of the people and this is a very cynical and dangerous political moves
[1:19 pm, 16/08/2021] +Smiley face: https://youtu.be/ea54InAVSe4
[1:23 pm, 16/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: How are you adapting to the current COVID-19 measures?
Myself and those around me are adapting fine. But I can’t help with this nagging feeling that we are letting down our guard too early and things might get worse soon.
My feedback is still the same. Mandate mask on indefinitely, strict enforcement at workplaces and public areas. Not just shopping malls.
Free Testing regularly for everyone would be a good to have as well. Another one is to swab before certain close contact events and activities.
[1:26 pm, 16/08/2021] +CQ: My sense is that there is a lot of mistrust in the information (or lack thereof).
Even in light of claims that people have died or suffered serious vaccine injury, at best the response is that it's a coincidence, about a thousand people die from stroke/heart attack every day. The "read between the lines" is "well, too bad that your mom/dad is one of them lah". However, this does not address the fundamental question whether the vaccine had somehow "accelerated" the event. There's no way to prove or disprove this, but for the people who are affected, this explanation is not good enough because it's an "i don't know" answer.
This lack of explanation is, imho, the driving force fuelling the rampant spread of fake news, because when official explanations are lacking and conspiracy theorists provide a "simple answer" to the questions, it is easy to accept the simple answer as an answer even if it is fake. It takes a certain level of critical thinking (or "sheep") to accept the non-answer as is.
[1:30 pm, 16/08/2021] +Caleb: Very good that Gov allow dine-in. But WFH default should countinue until cases reached daily around 20?
[1:31 pm, 16/08/2021] +Caleb: Or are we expecting 100 daily cases on average?
[1:42 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
With many medical experts step up to say herd immunity is no longer possible.
And US medical experts say even 95% vaccination is not good enough to achieve herd immunity - it implies that only 100% vaccination is required for us to emerge safely from the covid pandemic.
Hence, government must seriously consider mandatory vaccination once full and final approval are granted for the mRNA vaccines.
[1:43 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
No one is safe - unless everyone (100%) is safe.
[1:54 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
20% unvaccinated people is equivalent to 1.14 million unvaccinated.
It is a big Trojan reservoir pool for covid to spread and overwhelm our hospital resources.
Even 10% unvaccinated is 570,000 unvaccinated people.
More than enough to overwhelm our 1,000 ICU beds.
Hence medical experts say more than 95% is not good enough to achieve herd immunity.
100% vaccination must be our target like other life threatening virus pandemic such as smallpox measles mumps rubella diphtheria polio TB etc.
[2:01 pm, 16/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: I agree with this as well.
[2:01 pm, 16/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: This may become our own undoing
[2:23 pm, 16/08/2021] +Elena Woo: Agree too
[2:24 pm, 16/08/2021] +Elena Woo: With so many unlinked cases, if WFH is not the default, it may spike up more unlinked cases esp public transport is not at high risk of clusters.
[2:40 pm, 16/08/2021] +Smiley face: Time and exposures is a bell curve in nature. Holding all other variables constant, the longer the time of exposure will lead to a higher rate of infection. Capacity of a given area is a close relationship on the above two variables - time & exposures.
A vantage point, a place has its unique purpose. These purposes will drive human geography, this case footfalls. Each place is purpose-built and each as a set of metric, volume metrics and maximum capacity. Peaking and Rushing behavior are multipliers and a direct effect towards overcrowding of space and place.
[3:09 pm, 16/08/2021] +Dan: We see a rising trend of population around the world stricken by poverty and hunger either due to Covid or climate changes. I understand MSF is coordinating concerted effort from different voluntary agencies to help Singaporeans. It will be good if the ministry can advertise/promote the helplines, so that people are aware that there are such programmes they can go to if they need the assistance. At the same time, assure the people they are taken care of when they need basic necessity/ food.
[4:00 pm, 16/08/2021] +Rama: S'pore teen who suffered cardiac arrest after Covid-19 jab undergoing rehab, gets $225k in financial assistance
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/teen-who-suffered-cardiac-arrest-after-covid-19-jab-undergoing-rehab-gets-225k-in
[4:01 pm, 16/08/2021] +REACH: ➡️ Majority of seniors have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - The vast majority of Singapore's seniors now have at least partial protection against Covid-19, with 85 per cent of those aged 70 and above having received at least one shot of a vaccine, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Monday (Aug 16).
More: https://str.sg/3wHy
➡️ Pre-schools may allow parents of newly enrolled children to enter premises from Aug 19
SINGAPORE - Parents of newly enrolled pre-schoolers may be allowed to enter the schools' premises, starting from Thursday (Aug 19), said the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) on Monday.
More: https://str.sg/3wHE
➡️ S'pore teen who suffered cardiac arrest after Covid-19 jab undergoing rehab, gets $2…
[4:02 pm, 16/08/2021] +Rama: Woman Accuses Eatery Of Discriminating Against Unvaccinated People, Owner Seeks Understanding – Must Share News – Independent News For Singaporeans https://mustsharenews.com/eatery-discriminates-unvaccinated/
[4:10 pm, 16/08/2021] +Ken Loh: Will people purposely exercise so that get serious reaction? 😅
[4:11 pm, 16/08/2021] +CQ: no larrrr...... 200+k for something so serious is really a drop in the bucket leh
[4:11 pm, 16/08/2021] +Desmond: Once heart failure, the whole life gone…
[4:12 pm, 16/08/2021] +Desmond: I think NS also PES C Or F liao
[4:12 pm, 16/08/2021] +Rama: Stupid to try!
[4:12 pm, 16/08/2021] +Ken Loh: Not everyone earn so much leh
[4:14 pm, 16/08/2021] +CQ: in light of the potential repercussions, dunno how long he'll need rehab, how long he'll need to be doing follow-ups and whether long term medication needed, and whether there will be some form of disability regardless of all these. and i'm pretty sure his medical bills are not being 100% paid for by govt. so the bulk of that 200k will go towards that.
[4:15 pm, 16/08/2021] +Caleb: ya lor
[4:15 pm, 16/08/2021] +Ken Loh: Yup I understand the cost..
I am saying if people will abuse just to get the payout.
[4:15 pm, 16/08/2021] +Caleb: he in ICU for a few weeks right
[4:15 pm, 16/08/2021] +Caleb: abuse, may not get payout
[4:15 pm, 16/08/2021] +Caleb: cause gov already give out advisory
[4:15 pm, 16/08/2021] +Ken Loh: Hard to determine 😅
[4:16 pm, 16/08/2021] +CQ: nah... if you're gonna kena so jialat, even if you get another 200=k payout, it's not gonna be enough to cover your pain & suffering
[4:16 pm, 16/08/2021] +Elena Woo: Ya i think so.
[4:23 pm, 16/08/2021] +CQ: it's scary how many people on social media thinks the same way....
[4:25 pm, 16/08/2021] +Ken Loh: Yah… so is possible…
And we will have to think of it during the possible 3rd jab
[4:27 pm, 16/08/2021] +CQ: they may think it's "lucrative", until they actually kena and realise that they'll probably still be out of pocket
[4:32 pm, 16/08/2021] +Ken Loh: 🤷🏻♂️ we will see when it comes 😅
[5:32 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Schools will no longer place whole levels on home-based learning when COVID-19 cases discovered
The Ministry of Education (MOE) will “fine tune” its response to COVID-19 cases in schools to “minimise the disruptions” while keeping students safe, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Friday (Aug 13).
More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/moe-home-based-learning-positive-covid-19-case-2110356
[5:32 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Yes.
If we want to transit to endemic, we need to do this.
It is less disruptive to the school children, teachers, lesson, parents, the workforce and the economy.
[5:33 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
My close friend comments:-
We need to learn how to effectively implement micro-level lockdown and not broad strokes.
[5:58 pm, 16/08/2021] +Caleb: https://cna.asia/3iQDWHM
[6:01 pm, 16/08/2021] +Smiley face: https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=379410833544402&set=a.258648428953977&type=3
[6:06 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
How to dispel such vaccination fear - when people put this up in social media?
[6:10 pm, 16/08/2021] +REACH: 48 new locally transmitted Covid-19 cases in S'pore, including 9 unlinked
There were 48 new locally transmitted coronavirus cases reported as at Monday noon (Aug 16).
More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/48-new-locally-transmitted-covid-19-cases-in-singapore-including-9-unlinked
[6:10 pm, 16/08/2021] +Rama: May his soul rest in peace
[6:15 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Unless MOH has a structured and systematic way to approach such social media postings - and convincingly dissociate such death from Vaccination - it will play a very unsettling role that will dissuade the last 20 percentile group from vaccinating.
[6:18 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
That's taking the bull by the horns.
[6:22 pm, 16/08/2021] +Rama: Hospital visits to resume; visitors need to be fully vaccinated or show negative COVID-19 test result: MOH https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/hospital-visitors-vaccinate-covid-19-test-art-pcr-2115876
[6:26 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Eg.
Every such social media posting - will be accompanied by MOH investigation - and upon verifying it is not associated with vaccination - POFMA that particular post and post it in MOH website.
This will effectively stop all the grapevine social media that spread misinformation about vaccination trigger death.
[6:41 pm, 16/08/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Doctor certifying what trigger the death or forensic result should also be published in the MOH website and POFMA against the social media postings side by side.
This will be the strongest fact presented to the public - that will effectively dispel the rumours and misinformation and derail our vaccination efforts.
It will also convince scary elderly and educated vaccine hesitant people from using such social media postings to justify their claim that vaccination kill people and not reported in the mainstream media.
This is to quell such misinformation by "taking the bull 🐂 by the horns".
[6:47 pm, 16/08/2021] +Rama: Agree
[6:45 pm, 16/08/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan
[6:50 pm, 16/08/2021] +Kevin: Good night Megan
[7:00 pm, 16/08/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
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