Political leaders in Manchester have warned that spreading ‘irresponsible’ disinformation about coronavirus ‘puts lives at risk’ after conspiracy theories were shared on a councillor’s social media account.
A series of tweets labelling COVID-19 a ‘bogus virus’ and a ‘load of bol**x’ were posted on Coun Kenneth Dobson's Twitter page.
The indepdendent politician took a seat in Clayton and Openshaw from Labour last month.
Images have also been posted describing the pandemic as ‘propaganda’ and conflating the spread of the virus with the rollout of 5G wireless networks.
A tweet from March 14 reads: “AAHHHH!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Vaccine by April.
“I believe that they are using this bogus virus to lock people down roll out this 5G, change the monetary system and to make vaccinations mandatory… My thoughts.”
A separate tweet linking coronavirus with 5G asks: “Is there something they are not telling us?”
The most recent tweet, from March 19, shows official guidelines for UK hospitals – including a suggestion that dying patients should say goodbye to relatives via video chat.
The text accompanying the image says: “OMG… What a load of bollox!!!”
Coun Dobson could not be contacted for comment by the Local Democracy Reporting Service .
Similar posts have been spreading across social media, with people theorising that the virus was engineered by governments in the United Kingdom, United States or China.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has even set up a ‘myth busters’ webpage to try and tackle disinformation.
The sharing of hoax theories has been condemned by Manchester council’s executive member for adult health and wellbeing Coun Bev Craig and Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell.
Coun Craig said such fake news was in danger of generating ‘panic’ during ‘a time of crisis not seen in a generation’.
“Medical and scientific experts are providing the bedrock of advice which is informing what we do as a country. Fundamentally the decisions being made are about saving lives,” she said.
“And as a population we are being asked not only to make sacrifices and go above and beyond to meet the challenges of these extraordinary times, but to come together and support people in society who are in the most need.
“Individuals that are using this time to share conspiracy theories, to spread disinformation and to generate panic are simply putting lives at risk.
“If trust is eroded in bodies such as Public Health England – the very people who are trying to keep us safe – lives will be put at risk.
"It is as simple as that.”
Coun Craig said people who are uncertain about the facts around Covid-19 in ‘increasingly turbulent times’ should check information through official channels and reputable news sources, including ‘valued’ local news.
Ms Powell said: “People, particularly those in public office, need to be extremely wary of sharing and spreading fake news and conspiracy theories.
“Sharing fake news and hoax theories is the most irresponsible action of all right now.”
