The Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a statement yesterday (19 April) refuting and debunking a message that has been circulating on WhatsApp, alleging that the Omicron XBB subvariant is 5 times more toxic than the Delta variant, harder to detect and has a higher mortality rate.
MOH has maintained that the claims in the WhatsApp message are not true.
This comes in the wake of the number of cases increasing in recent weeks, partly brought on by the XBB.1.16 Omicron subvariant that emerged earlier this year.
MOH also added in their statement that there are no clear dominant strains in the local community and that there is also no evidence showing that any one of them causes more severe illnesses.
They also further added that ICU admissions are stable and low, with less than 10 Covid patients in the ICU at any one time over the last month.
MOH’s statement on Facebook
A message circulating on WhatsApp alleges that the Omicron XBB subvariant is five times more toxic than the Delta variant, is difficult to detect, and has a higher mortality rate. This is untrue.
International and local data have shown that the Omicron XBB subvariant is milder than the Delta variant, and does not have a higher mortality rate. Current COVID-19 tests are able to detect COVID-19 infections, including the XBB strains.
Of all the various strains in the local community now, there is no clear dominant strain. There is also no evidence showing that any one of them causes more severe illness. While we are currently in the midst of a COVID-19 infection wave, to date, ICU admissions remain stable and low, with less than ten COVID-19 patients in ICU at any one time over the past month.
We strongly advise the public to refer to credible sources of information. Please visit www.moh.gov.sg for the latest information on COVID-19.
The false message circulating on Whatsapp
