Hilo Medical Center on Tuesday denied rumors circulating on social media that a case of coronavirus was confirmed at the hospital.
A post on Instagram, shared by one other user, claimed a co-worker’s wife “works at the Hilo hospital and she jus [sic] informed us that’s there’s one confirmed case of coronavirus.”
“We are absolutely denying that,” HMC spokeswoman Elena Cabatu said. “That’s untrue. It’s a complete rumor and misinformation.”
Cabatu said there is no confirmation that an employee actually made such a statement, but HMC is “looking into it” and reminding employees to abide by patient privacy protocols and laws.
Both posts were deleted Tuesday afternoon.
Cabatu said she was made aware of the post earlier in the day and alerted hospital leadership.
Within a few hours, the misinformation started to “spread throughout our community,” and Cabatu said she began receiving calls and text messages about the post, and the emergency department also received calls.
“Spreading misinformation like this causes undue and unneeded stress and anxiety in our community,” she said.
Chad Shibuya, HMC’s director of infection control, said Hawaii doesn’t yet have the ability to test for the coronavirus in the state.
Lab specimens from any suspected cases would need to be sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for testing and confirmation, he explained.
A state Department of Health spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday afternoon that there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Hawaii.
Cabatu said individuals should get information about the virus from official sources, like the DOH and CDC.
State health officials and county leaders have also spoken out about misinformation regarding the virus, and have urged individuals to seek timely, accurate information from reliable sources like the DOH and CDC websites.
During a Monday briefing on the virus before the state House Committee on Health, State Epidemiologist Sarah Park told lawmakers that the rise of social media is a challenge for those working in public health, and that addressing misinformation diverts critical resources.
Hawaii County also is working to address misinformation regarding the virus.
The county Civil Defense Agency on Tuesday issued its first daily coronavirus update, which aims to provide residents with “the most reliable and accurate information available,” including what individuals should know about the virus and health advisories and actions taken by the government.
An informational pamphlet also is being developed and will be ready for distribution Friday.
The outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus has been caused by a previously unidentified coronavirus first detected in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on Dec. 31.
Common coronaviruses in humans usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of the newly identified virus include mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing. At this time, the CDC believes symptoms might appear 2-14 days after exposure.
For more information about the virus, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus or health.hawaii.gov.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.