By: Rangga Raditya )*
The government has been handling the Covid-19 pandemic well. All covid-19 patients are treated in hospital isolation rooms and are not charged, because they are covered by BPJS. But don’t let people believe in hoaxes about adapting to new habits, because it will actually cause more corona patients.
The new habit adaptation phase that has been carried out in recent weeks has made us even more diligent in maintaining the cleanliness of our bodies and the environment, and obeying other health protocols such as wearing masks. Besides, there are many things that have changed in this era. Supermarkets, cafes and other public places may reopen as long as visitors keep their distance and wear masks.
Unfortunately, in the adaptation phase of a new habit, many misleading hoaxes emerge. This fake news was spread by irresponsible people and they spread it on fake social media and online newspapers. Because more and more people access cyberspace. If they click on fake news, the fake newspaper revenue will mount even more.
One hot and ridiculous hoax is that the thermo gun is thought to cause brain cancer. In fact, if you want to enter a public place such as a bank, each person must have their body temperature measured using this tool. So something went wrong and fired the thermo gun only into the palm of the hand, and the results of the body temperature measurement were certainly not accurate.
In the era of adapting to new habits, there are also hoaxes about garlic which can be a corona drug. Even though it only functions to increase endurance. To consume it as a herbal medicine there must also be a dose. If there is too much, it will hurt and even add to new problems.
Another hoax that emerged during the adaptation era of new habits was that every patient who entered the hospital then died, had to be buried according to the procedure for the body of the Covid-19 victim. Because health workers and hospitals will benefit. Though this is wrong and the person who expresses it only hears rumors that are not clear.
The spread of this hoax is certainly very dangerous. People who are not tested for a thermo gun on their forehead and whose body temperature is more than 38 degrees Celsius, will have the potential to contract the corona. If he is sick and becomes a person without symptoms, the virus can spread to family and coworkers. The number of patients will increase dramatically because of hoaxes that mislead many people.
Hoaxes about every patient at the hospital being treated like someone who has been infected with the corona are also wrong, especially if a body is immediately buried with the covid-19 procedure. Every patient is indeed told to take a rapid test if he is treated, but if he doesn’t get corona, he can certainly seek regular treatment. If consumed by hoaxes, many people may be afraid to go to hospital.
The Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G Plate, revealed that hoaxes about corona and the adaptation of new habits appear more frequently on Facebook. Maybe because the site is more accessible than other social media. Don’t believe 100% of the news shared on the Facebook timeline, because it could be a hoax. Check the truth of the news or photos, before spreading.
In addition, the spread of hoaxes about adapting to new habits is also circulating in WA, especially family groups. The reason is because there are old people who have just had an Android cellphone for the first time. They have not been able to distinguish valid online media from fake, and then trust all news on the internet. Though it could be harmful fake news.
Hoaxes read by the public are spread freely on fake social media and online newspapers. This fake news is bothersome because it can slow down the handling of corona. Check the truth of a story on the internet and don’t believe it completely.
)* The author is a contributor to the Cikini Press Circle and Student