MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) has issued a statement regarding viral posts saying that several COVID-19 patients acquired the virus from groceries.
On the University of the Philippines Manila's Facebook page, PGH denied the rumors that individuals became COVID-19 positive through their groceries. They said no "such trend has occurred."
Their statement said, "In response to circulating rumors in social media, the Philippine General Hospital would like to inform the general public that there is no such observed trend with our admitted COVID-19 positive patients acquiring the illness from groceries."
PGH noted that the two most important risk factors for acquiring COVID-19 are: (1) travel history from areas with known local transmission, and (2) close contact with COVID-19 positive patients.
They asked the public to be wary of reports from unconfirmed sources that may cause panic and alarm.
"We encourage everyone to verify posts in social media and believe only the ones shared from official channels," the PGH continued.
In response to the growing concern on the spread of coronavirus, the PGH stressed the importance of the following precautionary measures:
There have been several social media posts circulating that COVID-19 can allegedly be transmitted through groceries. Some even warned about receiving the relief goods given by the government.
— Sally, The Summit Express
On the University of the Philippines Manila's Facebook page, PGH denied the rumors that individuals became COVID-19 positive through their groceries. They said no "such trend has occurred."
Their statement said, "In response to circulating rumors in social media, the Philippine General Hospital would like to inform the general public that there is no such observed trend with our admitted COVID-19 positive patients acquiring the illness from groceries."
PGH noted that the two most important risk factors for acquiring COVID-19 are: (1) travel history from areas with known local transmission, and (2) close contact with COVID-19 positive patients.
They asked the public to be wary of reports from unconfirmed sources that may cause panic and alarm.
"We encourage everyone to verify posts in social media and believe only the ones shared from official channels," the PGH continued.
In response to the growing concern on the spread of coronavirus, the PGH stressed the importance of the following precautionary measures:
- Social distancing
- Frequent hand washing
- Applying alcohol to hands immediately after touching potentially contaminated items (door knobs, peso bills, telephones, computer keyboards, elevator buttons, ATM machines, grocery items, etc.)
- Refraining from touching the face at all times
There have been several social media posts circulating that COVID-19 can allegedly be transmitted through groceries. Some even warned about receiving the relief goods given by the government.
— Sally, The Summit Express
