Recently, a message, attributed to Alberto Urquiola, director of the Venezuelan Red Cross, has been circulated on various social media such as WhatsApp and Twitter. The message states that there is a “colossal COVID-19 outbreak” in Venezuela and that the number of deaths in Caracas’ Poliedro (sports complex) and in other care centers in the city is high.
This has been an attempt to spread the perception of chaos and of a health and social crisis in the country, providing numbers of COVID-19 related deaths and infections much above the official numbers on the pandemic at the national level. Such fake news only intend to delegitimize the government’s response to the pandemic.
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On Monday, September 20, the Venezuelan Red Cross denied that its director had made a warning about a “colossal COVID-19 outbreak” throughout the country. Through a tweet, the Venezuelan Red Cross’ announced that the information that has been circulated is false.
Los comunicados de la Cruz Roja Venezolana son publicados en nuestras cuentas de redes sociales de forma oficial (@CruzRojaVe). Cualquier otra información difundida por un medio diferente, no es verÃdica.
— Cruz Roja Venezolana (@CruzRojaVe) September 20, 2021
The Red Cross’ clarification denies the fake news claiming that Venezuela is experiencing a surge in COVID-19, as has been falsely disseminated through social media and instant messaging platforms. Although Venezuela is in a critical situation regarding the pandemic, all efforts have been made to comply with the official mass vaccination strategies and biosafety regulations.
Featured image: Headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross in Bellas Artes, Caracas. File photo.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/GMS/SC
