PUBLIC APOLOGY. The screenshot shows the public apology posted by Jewel Louie Aviso, a former member of the Talisay City Disaster Team, who posted on his Facebook page that there was a confirmed case of novel coronavirus admitted at the local district hospital. Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas on Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2020) said despite the public apology, Aviso has been referred to the City Legal Department to study possible charges to be filed against him for causing unnecessary panic among the residents. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas denied on Wednesday a report that there is a confirmed case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) admitted at the Talisay District Hospital.
Gullas said the report came out on social media after a former employee of the Talisay Rescue Team posted a photo of the hospital with a caption that the medical staff has placed the facility on red alert following the admission of a person infected with the virus.
However, the hospital administration posted a statement, denying the claim of one Jewel Louie Aviso on Facebook.
“In response to the speculations circulated in social media, Talisay District Hospital would like (to) inform our patients and the general public that there is no confirmed case of novel coronavirus admitted in our hospital,” the statement read.
The hospital administration said as a Department of Health (DOH)-managed facility, it is mandated to attend to persons under investigation (PUIs) and persons under monitoring (PUM) for nCoV in the light of the global scare brought by the viral disease discovered in Wuhan, China in December last year.
The post, however, advised the public “to believe only the official statements from the DOH pertaining” to the virus.
Gullas re-posted the hospital administration’s statement in his official page, with a caption rebuking Aviso for causing the patients and Talisay residents to panic.
“Though I am happy that there are people aware of the issue and are doing their part to educate the public, I cannot tolerate those who use social media to create panic and hysteria,” he said.
Gullas said he was bothered with Aviso’s post as the latter has been identified with the Talisay City Rescue Team.
“I have received countless messages and calls about a post by Jewel Louie Aviso who claimed to be part of Talisay Rescue team. With my talks with (Local Disaster Management Office) head Alvin Santillana and Christian Bucao, he is already considered AWOL (absent without official leave) and has not been part of the team since two weeks ago,” he said on his Tuesday post.
Gullas said the Talisay City police and Santillana were able to locate Aviso and asked him to clarify his post.
Although Aviso has posted a public apology in his wall claiming that he had no intention to cause panic, Gullas said he will still forward the matter to the City Legal Department to study possible charges to be filed against him. (PNA)
