COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, not by bacterium – DOH

A man wearing a protective face mask walks past an illustration of a virus outside a regional science center as the city and surrounding areas face local restrictions in an effort to avoid a local lockdown being forced upon the region amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Oldham, Britain August 3, 2020. (File photo from REUTERS/Phil Noble)

MANILA, Philippines — COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, not by a bacterium, the Department of Health (DOH) reiterated on Friday.

The department made the statement to warn the public against false stories that a bacterium is the cause of COVID-19.

In an advisory, the DOH said the reports had claimed that it was Singapore that made the discovery.

“[We are warning] the public against circulating false claims indicating that Singapore discovered that COVID-19 does not exist as a virus but [as a] bacterium that has been exposed to radiation and causes human death by coagulation in the blood,” said DOH.

“The Singapore Ministry of Health clarified that this information did not originate from them and referenced similar misleading claims that have appeared in other countries,” it added.

The DOH emphasized that COVID-19 is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2 and not by a bacterium.

Filipinos were then advised to remain vigilant against misleading COVID-19  information and to seek updates only from legitimate sources and platforms.

According to Merriam-Webster, a virus is not a living organism and can only grow and reproduce in the cells of a host.

Bacteria, on the other hand, are single-celled organisms that produce their own energy and reproduce on their own.

While both can cause disease, most bacteria are harmless, and many are beneficial.