Alex Gonzaga, Binatikos Matapos Mag-Post ng Fake News sa Twitter

Amid the coronavirus pandemic that is currently plaguing the Philippines, fake and misleading news is also spreading. On social media, fake news can easily spread and incite panic and fear on the public. Even celebrities and prominent people can be fooled with misleading news, and among them is Kapamilya host Alex Gonzaga.

In a now-deleted post, Alex unknowingly shared misleading claims on Twitter. According to the actress, most coronavirus patients have contracted the virus from grocery stores. Because of this, Alex urged her followers to buy in bulk to avoid doing several trips to the grocery store.

"So far ang trends sa hospitals now is sa grocery nakukuha ang COVID-19, so if kayang magbulk-buy, yun na ang gawin. Then paki disinfect mga nabili delata etc. 1:9 ratio chlorox and water. 1cup chlorox 9cups water. Paki-share na alng."

Alex has more than two million followers on Twitter, which is why it's not surprising that her tweet immediately gain traction on social media.

However, not soon after that, people are calling Alex Gonzaga for sharing misleading news. Some people debunked Alex's tweet, and claimed that there's no evidence that COVID-19 patients were getting infected in grocery stores.

One netizen, in particular, addressed Alex, saying that the actress should be more mindful of the news that she's sharing to prevent spreading fake news.

"Hello Ms. Cathy Gonzaga, you have 2M++ followers, I hope before you post something that has been forwarded to you, you may want to consider the following: 1. Contemplate on the message first. 2. If you didn't understand, try to ask. 3. Or verify the info first. You're not helping sa totoo lang."

Later on, the "Minute to Win it" host acknowledged her mistake and immediately corrected herself. She also apologized to her followers, promising to always be mindful of what she shares on social media. Meanwhile, Philippine General Hospital has also released a statement debunking the claims about the grocery store infections.

According to PGH, most patients who contracted COVID-19 either have travel history or close contact with infected people. PGH also urged people to observe proper hygiene and social distancing to protect themselves from coronavirus.

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