Circulating Chain Messages For Wisma Athletes Health Care Professionals Need Donation Of Used T-shirts, BNPB Affirms Hoaxes

JAKARTA - A chain message has circulated on the WhatsApp social network informing health workers and volunteers of the COVID-19 Emergency Hospital Wisma Atlet Kemayoran that they need help donating used T-shirts.

In the message, it is stated that currently many volunteers or medical personnel do not bring enough change of clothes, especially single men. Meanwhile, the clothes they brought were soaking wet after wearing PPE.

In fact, the message included the address for the donation to Graha BNPB on Jalan Pramuka, East Jakarta. Then, include the official BNPB email address.

However, Plt. Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari confirmed that the message was misguided or hoax information.

"BNPB confirms that the news circulating on social networks regarding the donation of used T-shirts for medical officers and COVID-19 Task Force volunteers is a hoax or fake news," said Abdul Muhari in his statement, Friday, July 23.

Abdul Muhari said, hoax news with similar information content had also been spread on WhatsApp in April 2020.

In this regard, Abdul Muhari appealed to the public to be wiser in responding or disseminating news that could trigger panic or public discomfort.

"Make sure the news is correct before redistributing it through social networks or social media, such as through the WhatsApp application," he said.

Abdul said the government had provided a Hoax Buster information channel about COVID-19 via the https://covid19.go.id/p/hoax-buster link.

"The public can check various news or information on the link to ensure the truth of the news or information," he appealed.