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THERE IS A high volume of false information being shared on WhatsApp and social media across Ireland around the spread of coronavirus.
One of the themes that comes up repeatedly is around stockpiling.
One message being shared today on WhatsApp says that people in the HSE “are… suggesting stocking up for 3-4 weeks at least. Groceries/medicine etc.”
(The message also says that the government is planning to deploy the army on Monday, which we have debunked here).
This information is FALSE. No-one is being urged to stockpile food. In fact, the opposite is the case.
The facts
Judging by the photographs of long queues in shops across Ireland over the past two days, it would be easy to conclude that people had been told to buy extra food. It’s not the case, however.
We asked the Department of Health for the official advice and here’s what they said:
“The Taoiseach, the Minister for Health, and the Minister for Business have been categorical in their advice that stockpiling of food is unnecessary and may in fact harm others,” a spokesperson said.
“We have robust supply chains and there is no need for anyone to stockpile groceries.”
The comments were echoed by the Freight Transport Association Ireland, which represents more than 25,000 people who work in transporting goods into Ireland.
“We’re advising the public not to panic as supply chains are operating as normal and there is no need to stockpile foods or other products,” Aidan Flynn, the general manager of FTA Ireland told TheJournal.ie today.
Flynn said that the supply chain is resilient but people stockpiling “will undoubtedly put pressure on it”.
“We all need to be considerate and calm in dealing with this issue,” he said.
Other countries, including Italy and China which have seen the largest number of cases of coronavirus, have also managed to keep supermarkets stocked and the supply chain going.
Have you gotten a message on WhatsApp or Facebook or Twitter about coronavirus that you’re not sure about and want us to check it out? Message or mail us and we’ll look into debunking it.WhatsApp: 085 221 4696 Email: answers@thejournal.ie
The unintended consequences of stockpiling can cause problems for people who are vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus.
Professor Patrick Mallon, a consultant with a speciality in infectious diseases at Dublin’s St Vincent’s Hospital, said that stockpiling from supermarkets is difficult for people “who have to socially distance themselves the most – older people, for example”.
“We don’t want a scenario where everyone has gone in and stripped the shelves in supermarkets bare and elderly neighbours are left with limited options of what they can buy,” he told TheJournal.ie.
“It’s time to take a step back and think of other people.”
There is a lot of false news and scaremongering being spread in Ireland at the moment about coronavirus. Here are some practical ways for you to assess whether the messages that you’re seeing – especially on WhatsApp – are true or not.
STOP, THINK AND CHECK
Look at where it’s coming from. Is it someone you know? Do they have a source for the information (e.g. the HSE website) or are they just saying that the information comes from someone they know? A lot of the false news being spread right now is from people claiming that messages from ‘a friend’ of theirs. Have a look yourself – do a quick Google search and see if the information is being reported elsewhere.
Secondly, get the whole story, not just a headline. A lot of these messages have got vague information (“all the doctors at this hospital are panicking”) and don’t mention specific details. This is often – but not always – a sign that it may not be accurate.
Finally, see how you feel after reading it. A lot of these false messages are designed to make people feel panicked. They’re deliberately manipulating your feelings to make you more likely to share it. If you feel panicked after reading something, check it out and see if it really is true.
TheJournal.ie’s FactCheck is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network’s Code of Principles. You can read it here. For information on how FactCheck works, what the verdicts mean, and how you can take part, check out our Reader’s Guide here. You can read about the team of editors and reporters who work on the factchecks here
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They (anyone blocking brexit) are to blame.
@Paul White.: your right
@Paul White.: Not
@Paul White.: 100% 3 years and still denying the majority vote.
@Paul White.: no, the violent numpty and those who inspired him are to blame.
@Paul White.: you’re right. BTW Boris voted against brexit. So did Bill Cash and the rest of the Bnp/ERG. You know who voted for brexit. Ken Clarke.
@Paul White.: When half the room want one thing, and the other half want something else, the ONLY way forward is to compromise. That word appears to have been deleted from the English language by mistake!!!
@Dizzy: The referendum was voted on based on absolute bull information. The people were completely duped.
@ObsidianShine: Give it a rest you know nothing People voted for many reasons
@Paul White.: the people on this island voted against brexit, are against Brexit and should not have to suffer brexit. Give us back control of our island as and do what you want over on your own island.
@Paul White.: s.A.p
No sympathy for her
https://youtu.be/-Z60LUV3V0E
Relentless self promoter, she’ll probably blame it on Corbyn
@De20: Shes a loud mouth Told Dianne Abott to F off Sai she would stab Corybn in the front not his back and on question time last year compared some of the rotherham style abuse of young girls to a night out in Birmingham She can dish it out but cant take it in return
Only got yourself to blame jessie. You brought it all on yourself. Own it.
If only people we as exercised about Climate change , even homelessness or poverty. If you engage in criminal behaviour like attacking an office with people in it. then your a criminal, I doubt that happened overnight .
Virtue signaller extraordinaire!!
Is that it?
You’ve brought this on yourselves.you are a clown in a huge circus full of clowns and boris is the ringmaster.
Brexit it’s a hell of a drug
@Frank Discussion: watch out for the brown Brexit. It’s really bad sh!t
I would could consider myself a centerist FGer, blue shirt, conservative pro European call it what you like. But I do have a hatred of the far right, Unionist of the Ulster variety, brexiteers and Tories bar Kenneth Clarke, I find these people bar Kenneth Clarke obnoxious and want to stifle debate like some posters here.
@Val Doyle: The rest of us would just consider you anArrrsehole of epic proportions.
have your say