Facebook might have cramped down quite hard to fake news nowadays, but there’s one platform that’s even more vulnerable to fake news.
WhatsApp.
Because you might have received a forwarded message that there’s going to be a lockdown in Singapore this weekend, and there’s no way WhatsApp can reduce the distribution of that message.
Well, here’s the fact: No, there won’t be a lockdown.
So calm down and don’t hoard those toilet rolls again.
And by the way, if you’re wondering why toilet rolls are the go-to whenever fear strikes, you can watch this video:
(Check out our YouTube channel for more informative and entertaining videos!)
So, what happened?
National Development Minister Lawrence Wong: There is No Lockdown
Today, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong debunked the rumour, saying categorically that “there is no lockdown”.
If you’ve registered for the gov.sg WhatsApp notification, you’d have also received a message telling you that the so-called impending lockdown is fake.
Mr Wong said that the rumours could have stemmed from venue operators who misinterpreted the social distancing measures. “It could be because we have been pursuing these measures and have been talking to many venue operators already about all the safe distancing measures that we want to put in place.
“It could be because of that, but this does not constitute a lockdown. But it certainly means that all of these things that we are doing are taken together a significant step up in our measures.”
So get this into your mind: there will be no lockdown.
You can watch him talking about it here:
In addition, another rumour mentioned that PM Lee is going to make a speech tonight (20 March 2020). Well, that certainly add fuel to the lockdown rumour but that is fake, too.
So do yourself a favour: keep yourself updated by bookmarking MOH’s website here and registering for the Gov.sg’s WhatsApp service here.
Those are the most accurate information you can get from.
Not from your uncle’s friend’s sister’s cousin, who might not even exist.
