With the 7th confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) case in Lamar County announced on Sunday, Paris Mayor Steve Clifford took to social media to address rumors circulating the county.
“The rumors on social media continue to spread. Someone hears that there are many more cases, and we aren’t being told the truth. Someone else asserts that our leaders are hiding the truth from us. Someone who works at the hospital or in one of the outpatient medical facilities tells someone else who tells someone else about the large number of cases in Paris,” he said on Sunday. “I have heard all of these rumors and I want to try to explain why I think these rumors are so prevalent.”
Clifford said that all new positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed by testing are “definitely” being reported to the local media by the health department within a few hours of their receiving notification.
He further explained that before the media can be notified, the health department has to contact the patient, his/her family and institute appropriate quarantine recommendations.
“Due to the HIPAA law, no personal medical information about someone may be given to the public,” he said. “That is why we never hear the name of any person who tested positive for COVID-19. By law the health department cannot release information that would allow anyone to determine the name of any infected patient.”
Clifford went on to explain why rumors may be getting spread around Lamar County.
“Well, it often happens that someone comes into a medical office or the local hospital with symptoms that are suspicious for COVID-19. The patient is tested, and the test is sent off with results coming back in a few days. In the meantime, people who know about the patient tell their friends who tell their friends, etc. Soon a rumor is flying around town that we have new cases that haven’t been reported when the truth is that we have a suspected case and the test results have not yet been received. And the HIPAA law further clouds the issue as people want to know who the person is that may be infected.”
“Because of HIPAA, by law this information cannot be released. People become frustrated by the lack of information and begin to construct conspiracy theories which again spread through the rumor mill. From the beginning of this pandemic, I have striven to be as open as possible. I have shared information both good and bad as freely as possible. If people are informed about the facts, they will tend to make better decisions for themselves and their families. We are indeed in the early stages of a pandemic. Let’s avoid the rumors and make our decisions based on facts and on the recommendations of our local and state leaders.”
Clifford said he will continue to provide updates as appropriate, and will continue to make decisions that he believe’s are in the best interests of the community.
