News24 reports that the National Department of Health says it has noted a misleading message being circulated on social media platforms and attributed to the Ministry of Health.
The fake message calls for everyone to wear a mask because of the alleged detection of a new Covid-19 variant of concern. On Saturday, the department dismissed the claims, referring to them as "fake news". "The department would like to dismiss this as fake news by faceless sources whose sole intention is to create unnecessary panic," department spokesperson Foster Mohale said in a statement. Mohale added that there was currently no epidemiological evidence that new Omicron sublineages would be of substantially greater risk compared to other Omicron sublineages. The department said it was working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and scientists to continue to monitor all Covid-19 lineages. It urged South Africans to continue to be vigilant as they take part in festive season activities.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24
- Lees ook, Departement maak stem dik oor ‘Covid-19-gerug’, by Maroela Media
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