Western Cape Premier Alan Winde livestreamed a demonstration of a coronavirus test being performed on himself. This was in light of the recent spread of fake news related to COVID-19 testing.
Earlier this week, a video that contained fake news, claiming that community testing is dangerous as testing kits are infected with the virus, was circulated online.
Premier Alan Winde, in a statement online, quotes Minister Nomafrench Mbombo saying that “Fake news and misinformation around health news constitutes a potential threat to the public health and it robs people of vital information that can help them to get the best out of the health system. This is not the time for bad jokes nor a time to instill fear. I welcome the enthusiasm to screen and test despite recent fake news events. This has led us to expanding more sites to ensure that many people get to be screened and tested.”
To do his part in quelling fake news and to demystify the coronavirus testing process, the Premier took the coronavirus test live on camera.
In the video, Winde once again warns against fake news and encourages people to get tested if they feel it is necessary. He explains that the health professionals conducting tests are required to formally identify themselves using an identity document and that they will be accompanied by a member of law enforcement.
Via the video, you are privy to the full test, including the screening questions which determine whether you qualify to be tested.
“There has been a lot of fake news around the safety of the test and what it entails. Having now undergone it myself, I can say the test was slightly uncomfortable, being something I had never experienced before, but it was both painless and is 100% safe,” said Winde in a statement on Facebook after his testing.
Picture: Screenshot from video
