Let's keep rumours out of coronavirus fight - Bishop Fianu

The Most Reverend Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, the Bishop of the Ho Catholic Diocese, has called on the populace to sieve rumours and false information from the stream of news in the fight against COVID-19.

He said most of the viral feeds by the public concerning the virus were from unofficial sources and were false updates that spread fear and anxiety instead of hope among the public.

Bishop Fianu, in a message to commemorate Easter, said such unsanctioned information disputed official reports and was a major barrier to building a well-informed public to help fight the pandemic.

Bishop Fianu cited the incident at the tomb on the day of Christ’s resurrection where apostles Peter and John decided to verify the claims of Mary Magdalene that the body of Christ had been stolen and called for proper verification of news before dissemination.

“You have to verify and make sure that it is the truth before you report. Peter and John did the right thing by going to verify before telling others,” he said.

Bishop Fianu said Peter’s verified testimony must encourage the world to believe in Christ as one whom God raised from the dead to prove his victory over death, and that his disciples must not be overcome with fear, but continue to do his bidding so as to secure eternal life.

“Death will not overcome us because God created us to live forever. We must not fear. Our hearts must not be troubled. When the storm surrounds us, we know Christ is with us,” he said.

“We must believe Him and ask Him in prayers to receive us, fend for us, and protect us so that we will be people who will seek life and seek Him because He is life.”