SingPost: Audio Clip That Says Postal Worker With COVID-19 Spitting on Letters is Untrue

By
George Yang
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Have you heard of the story of a postal worker, who’s tested positive for COVID-19, spitting on letters?

Reader Bao: Postal worker? COVID-19? Yes, I have! Holy crap I’m going to burn all my letters now—

Don’t, Mr Bao. Like a Wise Old Man once said, that is fake news as well.

Reader Bao: Okay, but I didn’t know about it until you told me. So you’re the fake—

SingPost: Audio Clip That Says Postal Worker With COVID-19 Spitting on Letters is Untrue

An audio clip had been making its round on the Internet, primarily through WhatsApp, and while there’s no specific mention of names and companies, it purports that letters have been contaminated with the coronavirus as a postal worker, who’s tested positive for COVID-19, had been spitting on letters.

The man in the clip then warns that letters in our mailbox might be infected.

Image: GIphy

While there’s no mention that it happened in Singapore, this has pressed the trigger buttons in many Singaporeans because just yesterday, it was announced that 3 people working in SingPost have been tested positive for the virus.

And because people only read headlines nowadays, they didn’t know that these 3 people didn’t have any interaction with any letters as they work in the packet-processing facility.

Which leads to something that’s as bad as the virus: unfounded fear.

It got so bad that SingPost has to come out to address the audio clip in full caps.

“THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE IN SINGAPORE”

SingPost’s so triggered, they had to say it in full caps so that it’ll be louder than the audio clip.

In a Facebook post, SingPost said that the clip has been “debunked as fake by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia) and Prime Minister’s Office (Jabatan Perdana Menteri), as well as the said doctor himself.”

They then emphasized that they take safety as a priority during this outbreak period, and that “there is no evidence for mail and postal items presenting a risk to the public at this time.”

Here’s the full text lest you like to hear SingPost screaming:

SingPost is aware of an audio clip circulating from Malaysia, warning members of public to set aside mail for at least a day before handling them. In the clip, the man claimed of seeing a report on a postal worker who tested positive for Covid-19 spitting on letters.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE IN SINGAPORE.

This clip is currently making its rounds globally, including Singapore, and has the potential to instil panic and mistrust against national postal services, who play a vital role in a country’s essential mail delivery service.

The clip has been debunked as fake by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia) and Prime Minister’s Office (Jabatan Perdana Menteri), as well as the said doctor himself, who had stated formally that he did not record the clip.

SingPost has strict processes that all postal workers adhere to, to ensure their well-being and that of the community, especially during the current Covid-19 global pandemic. These range from a strict temperature and health declaration regime, segregation by teams, to social distancing and round-the-clock equipment wipe-downs. All mail processing staff members don on gloves, earphones and masks during their shifts. Our teams are also monitored via CCTV cameras across our operation floors, to ensure their safety and compliance with our measures. Along with all global postal organizations, we emphasize there is no evidence for mail and postal items presenting a risk to the public at this time.

For 162 years now, SingPost has been serving Singapore with pride and commitment as the Nation’s postal agency, in good times, and bad. In times of difficulty as with today’s Covid-19 pandemic, we stand united with the rest of Singapore, and remain fully committed in our delivery services for the Nation. We are grateful to Singaporeans from all walks of life for the outpouring of support as we go through this difficult period, and certainly appreciate that we stand united against falsehoods that spread unnecessary panic.

How About Parcels?

But how about parcels, you ask, since the infected individuals deal with packages.

The national courier has said that there “is no known risk” of contracting the virus through physical items so far, though because they’ve closed the packet-processing facility for disinfection and deep cleaning since 26 March 2020, delivery of packages might be “slightly delayed”.

So back the answer to your question: No, you can’t tell Singtel that you didn’t pay your bills because you burned the bills once it arrived at your mailbox for safety purposes. Go find another excuse, please.

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George Yang
Email: [email protected]