Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Beware of Fake Letter Saying COVID Tests Required for Public Benefits
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 5 years ago on
May 12, 2020

Share

There’s a fake letter, as well as false social media posts, going around targeting Californians receiving public assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interim Fresno County Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra, Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke, and other Central Valley public officials are warning residents that the letter is fake.

In a nutshell, the fake letter and social media posts falsely state that COVID-19 testing is mandatory for anyone receiving public assistance (CalFresh, MediCal, CalWORKS, etc.), and failure to receive a test will result in the suspension of benefits.

The letter also falsely claims that if someone tests positive for COVID-19, their children may be removed from the home and placed in foster care. The fake letter that started the rumors comes with letterhead resembling that of the California Department of Social Services.

The state has confirmed the letter is fake.

If you have questions about benefits, social services, or child welfare, call your county human services agency.

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Director of ‘2000 Mules’ Acknowledges the Conspiratorial Film Was Flawed

DON'T MISS

Visalia’s Keira Bixler Hopes Passion for Literacy Will Help Land Miss America’s Teen Title

DON'T MISS

Ex-Kansas Police Detective Found Dead on First Day of His Trial

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Man in Stolen Vehicle After Foot Chase, Seize Body Armor and Handgun

DON'T MISS

Community Health Wastes No Time Finding a New CEO

DON'T MISS

Check Out Santa’s List of Christmas Events in Fresno

DON'T MISS

Westlands Voters Back Board Incumbents to Handle Ag’s Big Challenges

DON'T MISS

MSNBC Hits Two-Decade Ratings Low Amid Trump Victory and Network Turmoil

DON'T MISS

Democrats Frustrated Over Joe Biden Reversing Course and Pardoning His Son

DON'T MISS

Killer Escapes in Delano. Residents Urged to Be Vigilant.

UP NEXT

Top Democrats Vow to Make California Affordable Again

UP NEXT

Gov. Newsom Buys $9.1M Marin Mansion, Keeps $3.7M Home in Sacramento

UP NEXT

Newsom, California Lawmakers to Begin Special Session to ‘Trump-Proof’ State Laws

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens 100% Tariff on the BRIC Bloc of Nations if They Act to Undermine US Dollar

UP NEXT

From Bach to Beyonce, Why a Church Orchestra Aims to Lift Up Young Musicians of Color

UP NEXT

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Big Balloons, Wet Weather and 21 Protesters Arrested

UP NEXT

More Than 3,000 Fake Gibson Guitars Seized at Los Angeles Port

UP NEXT

‘Misinformation Is an Attack on You’: Research Shows Alarming Increase in Social Media Manipulation

UP NEXT

Border Patrol Trains More Chaplains as Job and Polarizing Immigration Debate Rattle Agents

UP NEXT

Busing People Out of Homelessness: How California’s Relocation Programs Really Work

Fresno Police Arrest Man in Stolen Vehicle After Foot Chase, Seize Body Armor and Handgun

12 hours ago

Community Health Wastes No Time Finding a New CEO

12 hours ago

Check Out Santa’s List of Christmas Events in Fresno

13 hours ago

Westlands Voters Back Board Incumbents to Handle Ag’s Big Challenges

13 hours ago

MSNBC Hits Two-Decade Ratings Low Amid Trump Victory and Network Turmoil

14 hours ago

Democrats Frustrated Over Joe Biden Reversing Course and Pardoning His Son

14 hours ago

Killer Escapes in Delano. Residents Urged to Be Vigilant.

14 hours ago

Kash Patel’s Threat to the Rule of Law

16 hours ago

Top Democrats Vow to Make California Affordable Again

16 hours ago

This Disgraceful Pardon Is President Biden’s Final Feeble Act

16 hours ago

Director of ‘2000 Mules’ Acknowledges the Conspiratorial Film Was Flawed

More than two years after the widely debunked film “2000 Mules” poured gasoline on right-wing conspiracy theories about election fraud, the ...

1 minute ago

Dinesh D’Souza has acknowledged that the findings in his film "2000 Mules," which claimed widespread election fraud, were based on faulty analysis, though he still maintains the film's core premise is accurate. (IMDb)
1 minute ago

Director of ‘2000 Mules’ Acknowledges the Conspiratorial Film Was Flawed

11 hours ago

Visalia’s Keira Bixler Hopes Passion for Literacy Will Help Land Miss America’s Teen Title

Photo of caution tape
12 hours ago

Ex-Kansas Police Detective Found Dead on First Day of His Trial

Fresno Police arrested Eduardo Ochoa, 30, on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, after he fled from a stolen vehicle while wearing body armor and carrying a firearm. (Fresno PD)
12 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Man in Stolen Vehicle After Foot Chase, Seize Body Armor and Handgun

12 hours ago

Community Health Wastes No Time Finding a New CEO

13 hours ago

Check Out Santa’s List of Christmas Events in Fresno

13 hours ago

Westlands Voters Back Board Incumbents to Handle Ag’s Big Challenges

MSNBC recorded its lowest non-holiday ratings in two decades among key viewers, facing steep declines and mounting controversies post-Trump victory. (Shutterstock)
14 hours ago

MSNBC Hits Two-Decade Ratings Low Amid Trump Victory and Network Turmoil

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend