St Augustine's Hospital quashes viral COVID-19 message
Updated | By Lauren Beukes
Management at St Augustine's Hospital has rubbished a message on social media claiming the facility has been shut down.
![st augustine hospital](https://turntable.kagiso.io/images/staugustine-hospital-file.width-370.width-800.png)
The Whatsapp message has been circulating this week.
General manager of St Augustine's Hospital, Heinrich Venter has labelled the message as fake and says it's highly irresponsible.
He says the facility remains open and that there is no truth to claims that patients have been transferred to other hospitals - or that more healthcare staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
READ: SASSA reviews rejected COVID-19 relief applications
Venter says such messages are created to cause unnecessary concern and anxiety among the public and those who are being cared for in the hospital.
He's warned that it's a criminal offence to spread falsehoods about the coronavirus pandemic.
![Missed a Newswatch bulletin 2](https://turntable.kagiso.io/images/news_podcast1.original.jpg)
Show's Stories
-
British teen shows off too soon at European Champs
Herein lies a classic life lesson: Don't take anything for granted...
Stacey & J Sbu 16 hours ago -
The truth behind the viral 'bed rotting' trend
What it means to be a bed rotter...
Stacey & J Sbu 18 hours ago