Fake COVID-19 ‘wisdom’ list attributed to Dr. Bonnie Henry shared online

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A fake list of “Wisdom from Doctor Bonnie Henry” is making the rounds online.

The provincial health officer is known for her signature line, “Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe,” but 16 other items of advice on COVID-19 being shared on social media are not her words.

One point states: “If you don’t have a COVID-19 patient at home, there’s no need to disinfect the surfaces at your house.”

Another says: “Wearing a mask for long periods interferes with your breathing and oxygen levels. Wear it only in crowds.”

First on the list: “We may have to live with COVID-19 for months or years. Let’s not deny it or panic. Let’s not make our lives useless. Let’s learn to live with this fact.”

Whether that’s true or not, Henry never said it.

That quote, and the rest of the list, is based on a series of Tweets by an infectious disease expert at the University of Maryland, Dr. Faheen Younus, and he has since disowned it.

IMPORTANT:

These are not my words. There are errors and typos in this viral post on FB/WhatsApp that someone adapted from my tweets without approval.

I share COVID info only on twitter. Just read through my TL here if you’d like accurate info.

Spread the word please. Thx pic.twitter.com/tplGscusMh

— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) June 6, 2020

“These are not my words. There are errors and typos in this viral post on FB/WhatsApp that someone adapted from my tweets without approval,” he says. “I share COVID info only on twitter.”

The information on the list was not developed by Dr. Henry, according to a statement from her office provided to vancouverisawesome.com.

“While some of the recommendations are similar to her remarks over the past several months, there are inaccuracies and errors in the guidance that is provided,” says Henry’s office.

Visit the B.C. Centre of Disease Control website for advice concerning COVID-19.