Since the emergence of COVID-19 in the Central African Republic on March 14, 2020, rumors have been spreading widely among the public. One such rumor claims that “people who are tested multiple times through nasal swabbing are at risk of contracting COVID-19.” Be cautious, as there is no evidence to support this claim.
Why is this rumor false?
To put an end to the spread of rumors related to COVID-19 in the Central African Republic, the Central African Fact-Checkers Association (AFC) engaged in discussions not only with the Ministry of Public Health and Population but also with the COVID-19 patient care center to shed light on this issue.
In an interview with AFC, Dr. Louis Médard Ouarandji stated that this is a false rumor aimed at misleading the population about the existence of COVID-19 in the Central African Republic.
“It’s completely false. Regular testing to know your COVID-19 status is logical and widely used to detect COVID-19 infections. COVID-19 tests pose no risk.”
Similarly, we spoke with the COVID-19 patient care center at Bangui General Hospital through the head of the CNHUB sampling team, NDOUA-Ghislain, who clarified:
“It’s false because regular testing does not expose a person to contracting COVID-19. It is important to note that the sampling kits we use are secure. We open and use them in the presence of those being tested, which proves and reassures that they cannot be contaminated.”
According to the World Health Organization, nasal swab tests used to detect COVID-19 do not pose a contamination risk.
Beware of false information and rumors circulating about COVID-19. Remember that COVID-19 is a reality and continues to wreak havoc worldwide. Follow all prevention measures issued by the authorities.
Princia YALLA / AFC Editorial Team
This project is supported by Free Press Unlimited and the European Union as part of the COVID-19 Response in Africa.
Do you find information or images suspicious? Contact our editorial team at 00236 74 02 15 70 / 75 81 61 38 / 75 38 11 73, or email us at [email protected].
