The coronavirus started a huge wave of fake news on WhatsApp, Facebook, and other social networks in Romania, and everything to induce panic among the population, even if for now only one person is infected in Romania. I saw last night on Digi 24 the moderator of a show drawing attention to a fake news distributed on WhatsApp and Facebook in which an article on the television website was changed into a picture and distributed with false information.
WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Facebook are the main means of information for many Romanians, but unfortunately there is also an extremely large amount of fake news, such as the one complained about by Digi 24. Antena 3 was also the subject of a fake news related to Coronavirus, an image from Facebook was shown on television showing how journalists would have emptied the product shelves of a store to generate the impression that people are going to the stores and buying because of the Coronavirus, but the information was false.
Coronavirus Romania: BEWARE of Fake News on WhatsApp, Facebook
The coronavirus has become a topic for so many fake news that even the Romanian Government has decided to contact Google and Facebook to prevent the distribution of information that has nothing to do with reality. The Romanian government recommends people not to get their information about the Coronavirus from Facebook and WhatsApp, where there are many fake news, but from the websites of the Ministry of Health, MAI, or the Department for Emergency Situations.
Citizens who want information about situations related to COVID-19 can call the number 0800800358 free of charge. At this telephone line, information can be requested about how the virus manifests itself, ways to prevent the disease and other details related to preventive conduct. We ask citizens to keep informed on the official channels of the Government of Romania, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Department for Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Published by Department for Emergency Situations on Thursday, February 27, 2020
DSU publishes on Facebook at least two informations about the situation of the Coronavirus in Romania every day, and their page is a source of safe information, some materials with protection recommendations are also published there. DSU recently made a video that will teach you how to protect yourself from the Coronavirus, especially since there is a possibility that some carriers may not have symptoms, as is the case of the only infected Romanian, so you must be careful.
Coronavirus is the main concern of the authorities at the moment, they are trying to restrict as much as possible its spread in Romania, but you must get your information about the situation in the country only from the authorities.
