Covid-19 rumours cost Golden Peacock Hotel huge business
Business has come to a standstill at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe following social media rumours that the hospitality facility was keeping a couple infected with coronavirus (Covid-19).
The hotel’s assistant general manager, Samuel Miao, said in an exclusive interview with Nyasa Times in Lilongwe on Thursday that circulation of the fake news on the social media prompted guests to pack out while non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which were conducting their conferences at the hotel asked their delegates to leave immediately.
“Whoever spread that fake news has hurt our business. We have no guests and customers today,” complained Miao.
Miao wondered why people could make such speculations, saying the hotel stopped international bookings immediately the news about the outbreak was made known in December 2019.
“While other hotels accept international arrivals, we do not here. That is one of the measures we have put in place to prevent the spread of the virus into the country,” he said.
The hotel’s assistant Sales and Marketing Manager, Malumbo Kondowe, said the hotel has enhanced preventive mechanisms, including the introduction of handwashing with soap facilities at the entrance of the hotel.
Kondowe suspected that the rumours might have emanated from their competitors who are taking advantage of the fact that the hotel is being managed by Chinese whose country is the epicentre of the disease.
“While it’s a fact that we have Chinese managers and employees at this hotel, none of them has travelled to China recently. So, there is no need to panic because they have not been in contact with their relatives back home. They have been in Malawi for over two years withouth visiting China. So, why this discrimination?” he asked.
Midday yesterday, some people speculated that Golden Peacock Hotel was hosting a couple, which had symptoms of Covid-19.
In reaction, the Lilongwe District Health Office (DHO) sent a team of healthworkers to the matter.
The team discovered that there no grain of truth in the news.
“Please take note that the Chinese through their Embassy, which is working directly with our ministry, have been very cooperative in self isolation. In most cases, they’re not getting out of their rooms and food is provided through the windows for 14 days. Unfortunately, some individuals, when they see such, they make up stories,” the team said in a statement after the investigation.
The Ministry of Health and Population spokesperson, Joshua Malango, said it it unfortunate that people are spreading false news about the deadly disease.
Malango assured both local and international tourists that there is no case of Covid-19 in the country.
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It is quite unfortunate that the borders are not closed for a while. Mr Malango is telling Malawians fake news. Why did the Chinese manage to sue and yet they directly come from China.There are many Malawians who are doing ZOPUSA with the lives of Malawians. Where can one get Justice if the courts are on top to mislead people of the Country .Many Chinese families or groups prefer most to sleep at Peacock Hotel than elsewhere and the rumour might definitely be true because Chinese Manager and Khondowe cannot be able to reveal it in order to damage business.
If there is no case of coronavirus in the country, have you stopped the international flights coming to Malawi and what about the borders have you closed.If you have not done that your are putting Malawians at a huge risk.The disease is dangerous.Becareful Malawians becareful. Malawi is one of
few countries without any case of coronavirus to date God has favoured you close the borders, prevention is better than cure.
It is the last three paragraphs that seem to suggest that there may be some grain of truth here. The paragraph on self isolation is the problem and it suggests there is something there.
read again
Foseki
You are not a Malawian
Shity Munthu
That’s the thinking of the nothing to do, unemployed, malicious, jelous Malawian today. Cursed people. The only national anthem in the world that mentions jealousy. Sad. Our neighbouring countries don’t do shit like that. We Malawians thrive on other people’s downfalls and misfortunes. In fact corona should come wipe out Malawi and start afresh. Or sell it back to the british. We’re a fucked nation.
U TOO
U gologolo must be unemployed and just scratching your balls also. Kagwireni nchito baba. Nsanje kwambiri. Sumipundula nazo.
Fuck you too
Foseki
You are not a Malawian. MOTHER FUCKER