Beware of fake news about coronavirus: Health Department
The NICD also said on Thursday morning that the reports about corona cases in Cape Town were "unfortunate, false, and causing unnecessary panic."
By Thursday the global death toll in the pandemic spreading from China was standing at 170.
On Wednesday the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize says South African authorities are high alert amid an outbreak of the coronavirus although no cases of the deadly virus have been reported locally.
On Thursday morning though, speculation was rife that there were 5 cases of the deadly virus at the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town.
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Spokesperson for the Mister, Popo Maja says not only are these reports not true, but the public should guard against misinformation.
"It is quite usual that during outbreaks - and this is an international experience - during outbreaks people tend to generate fake news in order to cause panic," says Maja.
Maja says people should ascertain the validity of the information they get through contacting government's health agencies.
"We have an institution that is regarded as a world-class institution, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, that is able to do surveillance, check patients, where they come from, where they are, and if there is a suspected case, we will get hold of that case," says Maja.
"This fake news is designed to cause panic," concluded Maja.
The NICD also said on Thursday morning that the reports about corona cases in Cape Town were "unfortunate, false, and causing unnecessary panic."