No flu outbreak inflicting lockdown, obligatory face masks use

The rise in influenza-like circumstances are inside regular vary for the flu season, in line with the Division of Well being; there aren’t any official bulletins about obligatory face masks use or lockdowns due to it

Declare: The federal government is imposing obligatory face masks use in public areas and lockdowns in components of the Philippines as a result of an influenza outbreak.

Ranking: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: A number of posts bearing variations of the false declare have been circulating on Fb, with the most well-liked one gaining 2.4 million views, 26,000 reactions, 15,000 shares, and 1,700 feedback. 

The pages that posted these claims current themselves because the alleged tv community of the Division of Social Welfare and Growth (DSWD).

The posts use related captions and movies, with information anchors asserting the face masks rule and lockdowns. The areas supposedly affected by the lockdown usually are not talked about straight within the submit, though customers are directed to click on on the submit’s hyperlinks for extra particulars.

The details: Whereas there was an increase in influenza-like circumstances, the Division of Well being (DOH) has clarified that there’s no outbreak because the improve in circumstances is throughout the regular anticipated vary for the flu season. 

DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo stated that the variety of circumstances of influenza-like sicknesses logged from January to September this yr reached 121,716 — decrease than final yr’s 135,538 circumstances for a similar interval.

No official bulletins have been made on the DOH’s web site and social media pages about obligatory face masks use or lockdowns. The deceptive posts don’t present a listing of areas the place the supposed lockdown and obligatory masks use are imposed. The Division of the Inside and Native Authorities and information stories make no point out of such orders, both.

The movies used to bolster the false posts’ claims have been additionally flagged by AI detection device Sight Engine as 99% prone to be AI-generated. 

Phishing danger: A URL scanner exhibits that the hyperlinks hooked up to those posts result in unofficial weblog websites. Interacting with these web sites could expose customers to phishing dangers. (READ MORE: Phishing 101: Tips on how to spot and keep away from phishing) 

Class suspensions: The false claims started circulating after the Division of Schooling suspended face-to-face lessons in all public faculties in Metro Manila on October 13 and 14, citing an influenza-like sickness outbreak and the necessity for constructing inspections following current earthquakes in components of the nation. 

Some faculties in Metro Manila and different areas have additionally made related class suspension bulletins.

Amid the schooling division’s determination to droop lessons, the DOH insists that the current improve in circumstances is a part of the seasonal flu throughout the colder “ber” months. Responding to the category suspension announcement, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa stated the transfer could assist restrict flu transmission, however added that it ought to have been correctly coordinated with well being authorities to forestall alarm among the many public.

Earlier fact-checks: Rappler has beforehand debunked a number of false claims about illness outbreaks:

– Shay Du/Rappler.com

Preserve us conscious of suspicious Fb pages, teams, accounts, web sites, articles, or photographs in your community by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You might also report doubtful claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Fb or Newsbreak through Twitter direct message. Allow us to battle disinformation one Truth Examine at a time.