DepEd warns public against fake news on class suspension due to Mpox
By Jel Santos
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, June 6, warned the public against a false social media post claiming that classes have been suspended due to the monkeypox (Mpox) virus.
In an official statement, DepEd denied the rumor and urged the public to be vigilant.
“Fake news ang kumakalat na social media post tungkol sa umano’y suspension of classes dahil sa MPOX virus (A fake news social media post is spreading about an alleged suspension of classes due to the MPOX virus),” the agency stated.
As such, the education department reminded the public to exercise critical thinking when encountering unverified information.
“Muling pinaaalalahanan ng DepEd ang publiko na mag-ingat at maging mapanuri laban sa misinformation (DepEd once again reminds the public to be careful and discerning against misinformation).”
To avoid confusion and the spread of false news, DepEd encouraged the public to rely only on verified sources.
“Para sa opisyal na mga anunsiyo at impormasyon tungkol sa basic education, bisitahin lamang ang official DepEd Philippines social media accounts (For official announcements and information about basic education, visit only the official DepEd Philippines social media accounts),” the agency said.
On May 31, the Department of Health (DOH) issued a similar warning, urging the public not to believe viral Facebook posts falsely claiming a lockdown would be imposed due to Mpox.
The DOH stressed that Mpox is not airborne, and there is no need for lockdowns.
The health department said that lockdowns are unnecessary and warned against social media posts that use misleading health claims or fake endorsements to spread fear and confusion.