Hoaxes now appear as dangerous as COVID-19 itself. The government and the public need to work hand in hand to prevent the spread of public misconceptions that could otherwise leave us wailing with regret later.
By
KURNIA YUNITA RAHAYU
·5 minutes read
HUMAS POLDA METRO JAYA
The Metro Jaya Regional Police presented the suspects of hoaxes and hate speech related to Covid-19 at a press conference Monday (4/5/2020).
During the pandemic, social media has been flooded with hoaxes linked to the coronavirus. The false claims about SARS-CoV-2 have not only misled people but also contributed to many deaths.Grief still overwhelms the family of Ismawati, 36, a resident of East Jakarta. Early this month, her father-in-law Hasanudin, 63, died after being infected with COVID-19. He had been admitted to hospital for emergency treatment but died a few hours later.
Hasanudin\'s death raised a concern, not over the slow handling of the hospital but the false information about the coronavirus that, as the family claimed, had made him refuse to take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) swab test. In fact, Hasanudin had contracted a fever two weeks back, a symptom linked to COVID-19.
Hasanudin\'s refusal to do the swab test, according to Ismawati, had been motivated by his disbelief in the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Although the pandemic had been around for more than a year, bapak denied the existence of COVID-19 as he believed more in the distorted information about the pandemic," she said on Friday (16/7/2021).
Data collected by the Indonesian Anti-Hoax Society (Mafindo) reveals that between Jan. 1, 2020, and July 16, the group detected 1,064 hoaxes related to COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Communications and Information Technology Ministry announced more findings with 1,760 COVID-19-linked hoaxes discovered between Jan. 23, 2020, and July 17.
Kompas
Illustration of the character of the covid-19 hoax issue.
The false claims about COVID-19 had taken over Hasanudin\'s mind and later cost him his life. He did give in to a PCR swab test but it was too late, as the virus had already been causing a severe shortness of breath with oxygen saturation recorded at 36 percent. The hospital was no longer able to save him.
Ismawati was aware about the importance of providing factual explanations for those not used to receiving and verifying information on social media. However, she conceded that physical distancing had prevented her from directly engaging with her father-in-law, who lived in South Tangerang, Banten.
Ironically, she lamented, her family did not learn from Hasanudin’s death.
“Even after bapak died, some family members are still in denial (about the COVID-19 pandemic). They are not willing to be tested even though they have COVID-19 symptoms," she said.
The struggle against fake news about COVID-19 was also experienced by Helmi Indra, 34, a resident of Depok, West Java. His father, Nuryaman, 60, who lived in Tegal, Central Java, died after eight days of suffering the symptoms of COVID-19, which ranged from dizziness to a loss of taste. His oxygen saturation level was below the normal limit, less than 90 percent.
“Pap lost against COVID-19. What caused it? Hoaxes contributed substantially, apart from comorbidities [diabetes],” he said.
He added that his father had taken an antigen test that showed him being reactive but refused a PCR swab test and rejected medicine and vitamins. He died on Wednesday (14/7).
Helmi said his father had believed more in the information shared by a so-called doctor on social media who claimed that COVID-19-related fatalities were caused by the effects of consuming various types of drugs.
On Monday (11/7), the National Police’s directorate of cybercrimes named the doctor a suspect for spreading distorting information about COVID-19.
“What I regret is that pap believed the doctor\'s theory. He was [excessively] worried that too much medicine would lead to shortness of breath,” Helmi said while holding back tears.
Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro
Minister of Communications and Informatics Johnny G Plate shows examples of hoaxes related to Covid-19 that are spread across a number of portals, instant messages, and social media in Jakarta, Monday (3/2/2020).
On his Twitter account, he shared a warning against the impact of hoaxes, like what his father experienced, with the hashtag #lawanhoakscovid19 (fight COVID-19 hoaxes).
“I was moved by netizens\' comments. It turned out that many people had experienced similar incidents. We are not only fighting the virus but also hoaxes," he said.
She said many of the residents in her neighborhood refused to take medical drugs because they were worried about the risks of their interaction.
Denials of COVID-19 stemming from the influence of hoaxes were also found in Cakung, East Jakarta, as testified by Widhi Maulana, 36. She said many of the residents in her neighborhood refused to take medical drugs because they were worried about the risks of their interaction.
As a result, two of her neighbors refused to see a doctor despite having a fever and shortness of breath. Both died after a week of being sick.
"They died without being identified whether or not they were infected with COVID-19 and were buried normally," Widhi said.
Hoaxes going viral
Mafindo chairman Septiaji Eko Nugroho said hoaxes about COVID-19 accounted for the largest share of the false information circulating on social media as a whole. In 2020, COVID-19-linked hoaxes made up 37 percent of the viral 2,298 hoaxes detected, while misinformation about health issues usually never exceeded 10 percent of total hoaxes.
The Freedom of Expression Network (Safenet) reported that hoaxes could only be prevented by increasing digital literacy and opening access to valid information in addition to apprehend spreaders of hoaxes.
"Because information that has already been circulated cannot be withdrawn," said Safenet’s Southeast Asia division head, Nenden Sekar Arum.
Communications and Information Minister Johnny G Plate said his ministry has cooperated with digital platforms in efforts to ban content that contained hoaxes and misinformation related to the pandemic. He urged the police to get actively in the digital world for law enforcement against cybercriminals.
Hoaxes now appear as dangerous as COVID-19 itself. The government and the public need to work hand in hand to prevent the spread of public misconceptions that could otherwise leave us wailing with regret later.
