Ho Ching Says Viral Text About Migrant Workers At Community Care Facilities Is Fake News
There’s been a text going around on WhatsApp accompanied by a video, making allegations about migrant workers at the Expo community care facility (CCF).
The text and video were also posted on social media by All Singapore Stuff on Monday (18 May).
The video, which has since been removed, shows a crowd of people queuing for food and not distancing themselves from each other.
This initially raised concerns about safe distancing within the CCFs, but Temasek Holdings CEO Ho Ching has come out to say that there is no need to socially distance within facilities among confirmed patients.
Mdm Ho, who has posted about the CIFs in the past, took to Facebook to clarify her doubts about the person and what was said.
We summarise the important points below.
Event didn’t take place in Expo
The first point she makes is that the video actually took place at the Changi Exhibition Centre, not Expo.
This is what the Expo facility looks like.
Admittedly, All Singapore Stuff has run the clarification — however, the original texter appears to have mistaken the place for the Expo.
That’s strike one for the “nurse”, whom Mdm Ho believes doesn’t actually exist.
People in CIFs aren’t required to “isolate” themselves
Her second point is that the people in CCFs are not required to “isolate” themselves.
They’ll only need to practice safe distancing if those they meet have zero symptoms but are infected with Covid-19.
However, the workers all technically test positive for the virus in the facilities. As such, there’s no need to isolate them, explained Mdm Ho Ching.
She advises the public to tell others about this fact. Those who are older or who have underlying illnesses are warded in hospitals, due to potential complications with Covid-19.
Meanwhile, she also mentions that younger patients are sent to the CIFs and monitored. During this time, they’re free to move around the area and interact with others.
“Expo nurse” is likely not real
Finally, Mdm Ho asserts the story is likely made up to create discord and stir hatred in the community.
The original text used words like “disgustingly unhygienic”, and accused patients of wanting to continue being “sick”, so they could reap the benefits of staying there instead of potentially being “sent back” to their home countries.
However, the ‘nurse’ had gotten the location of the video wrong. Mdm Ho cites examples of viral videos and photos in the past which have been used to create panic and alarm.
She also doesn’t believe that the person is a real ex-nurse, based on this important mistake.
Crowds better managed since 10 May incident in video
Mandarin Oriental, who manages the facility, said the incident in the video took place on 10 May, while they were distributing afternoon snacks. This was reported on TODAY Online.
Queues were apparently orderly except for the area depicted in the video, said a Mandarin Oriental spokesperson.
They’ve since made improvements to queue management, such as staggered meal collection times to prevent crowding.
The care facility manager also stated that the patients don’t have to be isolated, as they show mild symptoms and aren’t as vulnerable.
Always verify news before sharing
The queues may have been disorderly, but the situation has improved and there’s also confirmation that this won’t lead to more cases spreading.
Fake news is made specifically so we’d share it rapidly. By attaching a video with a misleading caption, they may give rise to panic and cause unsavoury feelings within the public.
So let’s do our part and always verify where videos and images come from before sharing them.
Featured image adapted from Facebook & Mdm Ho Ching on Facebook.
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