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HOAX ALERT: Health officials warn about color-coded masks flyer
Jan 4, 2021, 1:09 PM | Updated: 4:26 pm
A fake flier in the window of a southern Utah business. (Utah Department of Health)
(Utah Department of Health)
SALT LAKE CITY — There is a fake flyer circulating around some Utah businesses and on social media saying that Utah will be requiring residents to wear a certain color of mask relating to their vaccination status. That flyer is a fake and a hoax.
Fake flyer tells Utahns to wear color-coded masks
“We want the public to know that this flyer is 100 percent a hoax. It is false and misleading information. It’s absolutely not true,” said Utah Department of Health (UDOH) public information officer Jenny Johnson.
Johnson said that the flyer appeared in the windows of some St. George businesses recently before photos began to circulate around social media.
“Information like this can be really harmful and dangerous in our fight against the pandemic,” she continued.
UDOH worked quickly to dispel the hoax online, reiterating that the state will never ask you to wear a certain color of mask to prove your vaccination status.
“There are no restrictions based on whether someone chooses to be immunized or not,” the department wrote on Twitter, saying vaccination status would not influence your ability to travel, shop or even vote.
In no way are travel, lockdowns, entering businesses, or your right to vote tied to your choice of receiving COVID-19 vaccines. The state of Utah will never require or ask you to wear a certain color of mask to prove you’ve been vaccinated.
— State of Utah COVID-19 Response (@UtahCoronavirus) January 4, 2021
Where to find legitimate information: from the source
The fake flyer did urge people to call the real coronavirus hotline maintained by the Health Department for more information in its efforts to mislead people.
“That’s really unfortunate,” Johnson said.
“The hotline is accurate and a good source of information. You can call and ask questions about vaccinations, and testing, and quarantine, isolations and all those things… We had nothing to do with that, and we’re pretty upset someone would choose to use a reputable source of information.”
Johnson said that it’s important to double-check any information with reputable and scientific sources.
“When you see information that is designed to get that sort of swift reaction out of people, a red flag should go up in your mind that [it] is probably misleading,” Johnson said.
Related stories:
- Political science professor: Recognizing fake news is up to you
- Fake news: what it is, and how it can influence politics
How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus
COVID-19 coronaviruses transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
- Wear a mask.
- Don’t touch your face.
- Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
- If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
- Obtain a flu shot.
Local resources
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
National Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization
