5G mobile networks don’t spread Covid-19, says government
The agency which distributes messages on behalf of the government of South Africa has taken to social media to debunk the #5gMyth which continues to spread.
DESPITE all the public announcements about Covid-19, including informative stories that debunk myths and hoaxes, some people still cling to conspiracy theories about the origin of the coronavirus.
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South Africa’s Government Communications Information Service (GCIS) took to twitter on Monday to debunk the #5gMyth.
Choose fact over fiction – rely on credible information sites such as government platforms or bona fide media. Play your part by wearing a mask, social distance and wash hands frequently. #COVID19 #5gMyth #StaySafe
— GCIS Media Liaison (@GCISMedia) January 18, 2021
Mobile phone towers in KwaZulu-Natal were torched last week by people who believed the myth that has spread worldwide about the Covid-19 virus being transmitted via a mobile phone signal or radio waves.
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Mobile service providers in South Africa last week joined Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) Africa Check, as well as the ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Technology to dispute the myth, which has not been scientifically proven.
“5G is the fifth generation of wireless mobile technology,” explained Africa Check an independent fact checker.
South Africa’s health minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, dismissed claims of a link between 5G and the new coronavirus in this tweet in March last year.
We have tracked the virus from animals to human beings. Let’s tell the truth . We can prevent the spread
— Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) March 31, 2020
Director of Media Monitoring Africa William Bird said in a television interview late last year that disinformation and misinformation is making it very difficult for the average news consumer to tell fact from fiction and that he sees one of the biggest challenges in 2021 dealing with people who distribute misinformation to try to sow seeds of discord which might well cause people to worry about the safety of vaccines.
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“The epic battles are just beginning. 2021 is going to be a great year for fighting disinformation, there’s no doubt about it, you know, the anti-vaccine pressure out there. But there are a lot of us out there to combat them so they are not going to find it as easy as they think.”
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
