'Get well cards' a personal initiative of doctor — RITM  

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:12 p.m.) —  A batch of handmade get-well cards have been delivered to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine to reassure patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as seen in a social media post of the doctor behind the initiative.

“We all need a dose of happy this morning. Say hello to RITM’s early morning deliveries! Ty kids for these rays of sunshine. They will be our patients’ special vitamins at lunchtime,” physician Nicole Perreras posted on Saturday morning.

Cards personally crafted by kids in different colors and forms exude good vibes with messages like "Hope to see you home soon!!" and "Hugs for you!!"

The RITM earlier denied that they have an initiative of soliciting "get well" cards for novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients under their care after a chain letter became viral online.

On Saturday, Angeli Blanco, RITM communications head, told Philstar.com that Perreras is working for the institute under Animal Bite and Treatment department.

Blanco affirmed that while the handmade cards are not RITM's official initiative, it is a "legitimate" personal initiative of Perreras and covidletters@gmail.com, the e-mail where people can send their "get well" cards, is a legitimate account Perreras created to receive the letters. 

"While the public call to send "get well soon" cards for our patients is her personal initiative, RITM is fully supportive of this endeavor," Blanco said in an email to Philstar.com.

According to chain messages circulating on social media and instant messaging applications, Perreras requested children and others to make "handmade get-well cards" show warmth and support to COVID-19 patients.

Variations of the said messages include the following:

"Dr. Nicole Perreras, a doctor at RITM, is requesting kids to create handmade "get well soon" cards for COVID-19 patients. The letters will be given to the isolated patients as part of their breakfast trays in hopes of brightening their day and uplifting their spirits. The greeting cards may be mailed to her at RITM, Research Drive, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang. But given logistical limitations, a photographed or scanned copy of the artworks may be sent at: covidletters@gmail.com Note: This is not limited to kids!! You can also make letters for our brave frontliners too!"

Let us help uplift the spirits of our RITM patients. Kids are invited to make handmade letters for the patients of RITM. Each patient will receive a “get well” card as part of their breakfast tray.

Letters can be sent to Dr. Nicole Perreras (RITM, Resea… https://t.co/jN36aj9RKe pic.twitter.com/0JjFR0ThFs

— Museo Pambata (@museopambata) March 27, 2020

Even celebrities have been encouraging their followers to participate.

Dr Nicole Perreras a doctor in RITM is requesting if your kids are interested in creating handmade get well cards that they can give out to their patients to somehow uplift their spirits. Each patient will get a get well card as part of their breakfast tray. ????

— Jodi Sta.Maria (@JodiStaMaria) March 27, 2020

Found this and thought it'd be nice gesture! ????

Hello everyone ? Sharing below ????

Dr. Nicole Perreras is a doctor at RITM. She is requesting kids to create handmade get well cards that they can give out to their patients to somehow lift their spirits.

1/3

— Ria Atayde (@RiaAtayde) March 27, 2020

Editor's note: An earlier version of the story showed that the initiative is probably a phishing scam. We spoke with RITM's communication head who clarified that the "get well soon" cards for COVID-19 patients is an initiative of a doctor. This has been corrected.