An IT system testing glitch at the Ministry of Health (MOH) resulted in 357 patients receiving a text message on May 16, 2020, informing them that they had tested positive for Covid-19.

Erroneous message sent due to system glitch

357 patients who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 received an erroneous text informing that they had tested positive even though they were already informed earlier, according to CNA.

These SMS messages were sent around 7pm on May 16.

MOH said they took immediate steps to rectify the situation once the error had been detected.

A follow-up message was also sent to all affected individuals by 10pm to clarify that the earlier SMS message had been sent in error, and to apologise for any inconvenience and anxiety caused.

"We have since reviewed our processes to ensure that a similar error will not recur," MOH said.

"The messages had been sent due to an IT system testing glitch as we sought to improve the efficiency of our system," the ministry said in response to CNA's queries.

MOH said that no confidential information had been breached.

Recovered Covid-19 patient received text

A former Covid-19 patient who had been discharged on April 21 shared on Facebook that he had received a false alarm from MOH on May 16, the same day where the glitch occurred.

According to the Facebook user, he had taken another test after being discharged as he was feeling ill, and wanted to be sure.

He had received his second results on May 12, which came back negative.

After receiving the text message informing him that he had tested positive on May 16, he called MOH to verify the details, which eventually turned out to be a false alarm.

Top image via Unsplash, Afri Ayub/Facebook