The screenshot of a TV news report has been edited to mislead netizens into thinking Health Secretary Francisco Duque has endorsed drinking a concoction of gin and kalamansi (lime) as protection from COVID-19.
In its April 2 post, Diary ng Lalake (Diary of a Man), a Facebook page with 4.1 million followers, changed the text on the thumbnail image of CNN Philippines’ March 9 video to:
Drinking Gin-kalamansi will protect you from COVID-19
The original text, in all caps, reads:
Four more people in PH test positive for COVID-19
In its report, CNN said the four additional cases brought the number of infections to 10 and President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of public health emergency.
The World Health Organization has busted the myth that drinking alcohol would prevent the novel coronavirus infection:
Drinking alcohol does not protect you against COVID-19 and can be dangerous.
Frequent or excessive alcohol consumption can increase your risk of health problems.
WHO said alcohol consumption contributes to three million deaths each year globally and to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people.
Harmful use of alcohol is also responsible for 5.1 percent of the global burden of disease, it said.
The Department of Health lists the following ways to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus:
Practice frequent and proper handwashing - wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Practice proper cough etiquette.
Maintain distance at least one meter away from individual/s manifesting with flu-like symptoms.
Avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals (alive or dead), animal markets, and products that come from animals (such as uncooked meat).
Ensure that food is well-cooked.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The DOH guidelines for proper cough etiquette are:
Cover mouth and nose using handkerchief/tissue (sleeves or crook of the elbow may also be used to cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing).
Move away from people when coughing.
Do not spit.
Throw away used tissues properly.
Always wash your hands after sneezing or coughing.
Use alcohol/sanitizer.
Created in April 2015, Diary ng Lalake caters to men, describing a “real man” as one with “genuine self-confidence and true masculinity.”
It maintains a Facebook group by the same name. Started in December, the group has more than four million likes.
References
Department of Health. (n.d.) 2019-NCOV FAQS. Retrieved from https://www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCov/FAQs
Diary ng Lalake. (2020, April 2). Yun naman pala eh. Tagay na. So that's it, cheers [Facebook update]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/DNLalake/posts/2792730414299107
Four more people in PH test positive for Covid-19. (2020, March 9). Retrieved from https://www.cnnphilippines.com/videos/2020/3/9/Four-more-people-in-PH-test-positive-for-Covid-19.html
World Health Organization. (n.d.) Alcohol. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/alcohol#tab=tab_1
World Health Organization. (n.d.) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters