COVID-19: Speculations & Confirmed Facts

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This entry is a part of Wiki.sg's coverage on the evolving COVID-19 situation in Singapore. For more COVID-19 stories, click here.

A microscopic image of the coronavirus. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

Since the first confirmed case in Singapore, certain individuals have been spreading fake news about the virus on internet forums and chat groups. These claims have been debunked by government authorities. This entry highlights the common scientific speculations about the virus and the confirmed facts debunking the major fake news cases.

Common speculations

Fresh information about the virus continue to surface as scientists and virologists worldwide conduct independent research. As this is a rapidly developing situation, these findings have yet to be confirmed by a global health authority. The following are the common speculations that have come to light.

Bats were the host animals for the SARS coronavirus in 2003. Photo from Business Insider Singapore.

Bats could be the original host animal

So far, researchers have found out that the genetic make-up of the nCov-2019 is 96% identical to coronavirus found in fruit bats.[1] It is unlikely that snakes are the main source of the zoonotic transmission. However, there is no confirmation on what animal infected patient zero. Bats could have passed the virus onto another species sold at Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market.[2][3]

Virus could have originated outside of Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market

Studies have shown that 2019-nCov may have been passed from animal to human before entering the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market.[4][5] The lack of proper hygiene practices at the market and close human proximity may have only exacerbated the virus transmission.[6][7]

Virus could be deadlier than SARS

The speculation that 2019-nCOv is deadlier than SARS is inconclusive. It is based on an initial study conducted by a group of Hong Kong scientists. They posit that the fatality rate of infected individuals stands at 14% (4 out of 29 severely-ill patients). However, there is not enough information for a clear estimate as the outbreak is still growing and being investigated.[8]

Virus could be more contagious than SARS

The speculation that 2019-nCOv is more contagious than SARS is inconclusive. Chinese officials claimed that the 2019-nCov could be asymptomatic, unlike the SARS virus. This means that infected individuals could still be infectious despite not showing any symptoms.[9][10]

Clarification of fake news in Singapore

The facts in this section have been cross-checked with official statements from the relevant authorities. These include the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other local government bodies.

Fact: No deaths in January 2020

False Claims Status Fact Fact-Checking Authorities Refs.
“First death” in Singapore Debunked There were no deaths caused by the 2019-nCov virus in January 2020. Factually [11][12]
"Death" from visiting a shopping mall in Singapore Debunked Ministry of Health (MOH) [13]
Factually [14]

The following table documents the weekly and monthly tally of confirmed infected individuals in Singapore for January 2020. The first suspected case was reported on 4 January 2020 (Week 1).

January 2020 Confirmed Cases Deaths Refs.
Week 1 - - -
Week 2 - - -
Week 3 - - -
Week 4 4 - [15][16][17]
Week 5 12 - [18][19][20][21][22]
Total 16 0 -

Fact: 1 Singaporean infected in January 2020

For a more detailed timeline of how the virus came to Singapore, refer to this entry. On 30 January 2020, an online source claimed that 5 Singaporeans have been infected with the virus.[23]

False Claim Status Fact Fact-Checking Authorities Refs.
5 Singaporeans have been infected with the virus Debunked The first case of an infected Singaporean was only confirmed on 31 January 2020.[24] Ministry of Health (MOH) [25]
Factually [26]

Fact: Public hospitals are safe to visit

Inside a NEP isolation room in the NCID. Retrieved from The Straits Times.

On 24 January 2020, the Ministry of Health (MOH) debunked the assumption that certain public hospitals were unsafe because of the virus.

False Claim Status Facts Fact-checking Authorities Refs.
Avoid visiting certain public hospitals for fear of getting infected by the individuals quarantined at said locations. Debunked All public hospitals in Singapore follow established safety protocols to effectively isolate suspected and confirmed cases. Factually [27][28]
Infected individuals are kept in negative pressure (NEP) isolation rooms. Contaminated air goes through filters and is UV-treated before being released. Ministry of Health (MOH) [29]
All 9 public hospitals in Singapore have these negative pressure (NEP) isolation rooms. [30]

Fact: Healthy people should not need to wear surgical masks

Masks are an effective precautionary measure from spreading the virus to other people. However, healthy people could still use masks as a protective measure if travelling through high-density public spaces like airports and public transit.

False Information Status Facts Fact-checking Authorities Refs.
Everyone should wear surgical masks to prevent getting infected Debunked Only the sick and unwell should wear surgical masks National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) [31]
Surgical masks prevent particle droplets from reaching others Factually [32]

Fact: There are sufficient face masks for all Singaporeans

False Claims Status Facts Fact-checking Authorities Refs.
Singapore has run out of face masks Debunked The SAF will be packing more than 5.2 million surgical masks to be distributed to households islandwide.[33] Ministry of Health (MOH) [34]
Debunked Factually [35]
Unity Pharmacy sells masks at specific timings Debunked Masks are sold throughout operating hours Fairprice [36]

Fact: Virus spreads like the common flu

False Claim Status Facts Fact-checking Authority Refs.
Keep throat "constantly moist" to prevent infection Debunked A moist throat does not deter infection. Ministry of Health (MOH) [37][38][39]
An individual is infected when contact is made with saliva (eg. cough and sneeze droplets) carrying the virus.
An individual is infected when contact is made with surfaces contaminated with the virus before touching their mouth and eyes.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), there is no known vaccine for the Wuhan virus (2019-nCov) as of January 2020. Therefore, all information regarding home remedies and self-medication (such as the above) are presumed to be false until confirmed by a legitimate health authority.

Fact: Restricted entry for Chinese travellers

On 25 January 2020, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) debunked rumours that Wuhan travellers were denied entry into Singapore. This was three days before Singapore officially declared a limited travel ban on travellers from Hubei province, China. The limited travel ban was an official response to the increasing number of infected individuals from Wuhan in Singapore.

False Claim Status Facts Fact-checking Authorities Refs.
100 arriving travellers from Wuhan were "denied" entry

(25 January 2020)

Debunked Singapore did not turn away visitors from Wuhan before 28 January 2020. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) [40]
Factually [41]
Only on 28 January 2020 was there a restriction on travellers from Hubei. Ministry of National Development, Wuhan Virus Task Force [42]

References / Citations

  1. ↑ “Virus in Chinese outbreak is closest to one from bats, not snakes”. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Technology Review. January 23, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  2. ↑ Zhou, Peng, Xing-Lou Yang, Xian-Guang Wang, Ben Hu, Lei Zhang, Wei Zhang, Hao-Rui Si, et al. “Discovery of a Novel Coronavirus Associated with the Recent Pneumonia Outbreak in Humans and Its Potential Bat Origin”. BioRxiv, January 23, 2020.
  3. ↑ Aylln Woodward. “Experts haven’t yet confirmed the animal species that enabled the Wuhan coronavirus to spread to people”. Business Insider.  January 27, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  4. ↑ Sahar Esfandlarl. “A new report indicates that the deadly Chinese coronavirus may not actually have originated at a wet market in Wuhan”. Business Insider.  January 27, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  5. ↑ Cohen, John. “Wuhan seafood market may not be source of novel virus spreading globally.” AAAS. January 26, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  6. ↑ Palmer, James. “Don’t Blame Bat Soup for the Wuhan Virus". Foreign Policy. January 27, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  7. ↑ Huang, Chaolin, Yeming Wang, Xingwang Li, Lili Ren, Jianping Zhao, Yi Hu, Li Zhang, et al. “Clinical Features of Patients Infected with 2019 Novel Coronavirus in Wuhan, China”. The Lancet, January 24, 2020.
  8. ↑ Tan, Ee Lyn. “Wuhan virus versus Sars - which is more deadly?”. The Straits Times. January 26, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  9. ↑ JULIA NAFTULIN. “Wuhan Coronavirus Can Be Infectious Before People Show Symptoms, Official Claims”. Business Insider. January 26, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  10. ↑ “China coronavirus 'spreads before symptoms show”. BBC News. January 26, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  11. ↑ “Clarifications on misinformation regarding the Wuhan coronavirus”. Factually. January 25, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  12. ↑ "Corrections and clarifications regarding falsehoods posted on HardwareZone Forum Post". Factually. January 27, 2020. Accessed on 29 January 2020.
  13. ↑ Ministry of Health, Singapore. Facebook. January 25, 2020. Accessed on 29 January 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/154909330630/posts/10157707239240631/?d=n
  14. ↑ “Clarifications on misinformation regarding the Wuhan coronavirus”. Factually. January 25, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  15. ↑ “Confirmed Imported Case Of Novel Coronavirus Infection In Singapore; Multi-ministry Taskforce Ramps Up Precautionary Measures”. Ministry of Health. January 23, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  16. ↑ “Two More Cases Of Confirmed Imported Case Of Novel Coronavirus Infection In Singapore”. Ministry of Health. January 24, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  17. ↑ “Fourth Confirmed Imported Case Of Wuhan Coronavirus Infection In Singapore". Ministry of Health. January 26, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  18. ↑ “Fifth Confirmed Imported Case Of Wuhan Coronavirus Infection In Singapore”. Ministry of Health. January 27, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  19. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien; Khalik, Salma and Goh, Timothy. “Wuhan virus: 2 new confirmed cases in Singapore, bringing total to 7; no entry or transit for new visitors from Hubei”. The Straits Times. January 28, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  20. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien. "Singapore confirms 3 more Wuhan virus cases, bringing total to 10; all are from Wuhan". The Straits Times. January 29, 2020. Accessed on 30 January 2020.
  21. ↑ "Wuhan virus outbreak: Singapore confirms 3 more cases, all Chinese nationals from Wuhan, bringing total to 13". Today. January 30, 2020. Accessed on 31 January 2020.
  22. ↑ Goh, Timothy. "Wuhan virus: First Singaporean case confirmed; she was on Scoot flight from Wuhan". The Straits Times. January 31, 2020. Accessed on 3 February 2020.
  23. ↑ “Clarifications on misinformation regarding the Wuhan coronavirus”. Factually. January 30, 2020. Accessed 31 January 2020.
  24. ↑ Goh, Timothy. "Wuhan virus: First Singaporean case confirmed; she was on Scoot flight from Wuhan". The Straits Times. January 31, 2020. Accessed on 3 February 2020.
  25. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien; Khalik, Salma and Goh, Timothy. “Wuhan virus: 2 new confirmed cases in Singapore, bringing total to 7; no entry or transit for new visitors from Hubei”. The Straits Times. January 28, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  26. ↑ “Clarifications on misinformation regarding the Wuhan coronavirus”. Factually. January 30, 2020. Accessed 31 January 2020.
  27. ↑ “Clarifications on misinformation regarding the Wuhan coronavirus”. Factually. January 25, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  28. ↑ Ministry of Health, Singapore. Facebook. January 24, 2020. Accessed on 29 January 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/154909330630/posts/10157704693475631/?d=n
  29. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien. "Singapore confirms 3 more Wuhan virus cases, bringing total to 10; all are from Wuhan". The Straits Times. January 29, 2020. Accessed on 30 January 2020.
  30. ↑ Khalik, Salma. “Why first confirmed patient is being kept in isolation at SGH”. The Straits Times. January 25, 2020. Accessed on 28 January 2020.
  31. ↑ Ang, Prisca. "Wuhan virus: Masks necessary only for those with respiratory symptoms, stresses chief of Singapore's infectious diseases centre". The Straits Times. January 25, 2020. Accessed on 31 January 2020.
  32. ↑ “Masking up: how and when you should do it”. Factually. January 29, 2020. Accessed 30 January 2020.
  33. ↑ Ang Hwee Min and Zhaki Abdullah. "Singapore households to get 4 face masks each amid worries over Wuhan virus". Channel News Asia. January 30, 2020. Accessed on 31 January 2020.
  34. ↑ “Viral anxiety: Singapore stores sell out of masks islandwide”. Coconuts Singapore. January 28, 2020. Accessed 30 January 2020.
  35. ↑ “Corrections and clarifications regarding falsehoods published by States Times Review on availability of face masks”. Factually. January 30, 2020. Accessed 31 January 2020.
  36. ↑ Leong, Adeline. "Supply of masks in Singapore sufficient, no need to rush to buy them: Lam Pin Min". The Straits Times. January 28, 2020. Accessed on 31 January 2020.
  37. ↑ “'MOH advice' on how not to catch influenza is a hoax”. The Straits Times. January 07, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  38. ↑ “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Wuhan Coronavirus Situation in China.” Ministry of Health. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  39. ↑ Yong, Clement. "What you need to know about the Wuhan virus". The Straits Times. January 23, 2020. Accessed on 30 January 2020.
  40. ↑ Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. Facebook. January 25, 2020. Accessed on 29 January 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/169550633394859/posts/1100090497007530
  41. ↑ “Clarifications on misinformation regarding the Wuhan coronavirus”. Factually. January 25, 2020. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  42. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien and Khalik, Salma and Goh, Timothy.  “Wuhan virus: 2 new confirmed cases in Singapore, bringing total to 7; no entry or transit for new visitors from Hubei”. The Straits Times. January 28, 2020. Accessed on 28 January 2020.
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