Image credit: Wikimedia
A message claiming that the government is going to spray chemicals overnight to kill the novel coronavirus has been going viral on social media.
The message also instructs residents to remain indoors from 10 pm on Wednesday till 5 am on Thursday.
Certain Facebook users also claimed that the message has been issued by the health authorities in Chandigarh, while some others claimed this will occur in Bengaluru.
The caption of the post reads, "Hello, I kindly request you not to come out of your house after 10 pm tonight till tomorrow at 5 am... As there will be spraying medicine in the air in order to kill the COVID-19!! Share this information to all your friends, relatives and your families...Thank you!"
#Chandigarh Message from health authorities chandigarh :
— Bold_Monk (@BoldMonk22) March 18, 2020
Hello i kindly request you not to come out of your house after 10 pm tonight till tomorrow 5 am.... As their will be spraying medicine in the air in order to kill the COVID-19!!
Share this information to all your friends
Claim:
Citizens should remain indoors since the government will spray medicine to kill the airborne virus.
The claim is false.
The 'Press Information Bureau Fact Check' Twitter account, which is responsible for debunking fake news related to government policies and schemes, has denied the claims of the viral message
"Amidst #Coronavirusoutbreak, misinformation on CV Vaccine gas spread out through Airplanes is circulating on social media. NO such action has been planned out by the Indian Government," their tweet reads.
Amidst #Coronavirusoutbreak, misinformation on CV Vaccine gas spread out through Airplanes is circulating on social media
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) March 17, 2020
NO such action has been planned out by the Indian Government.
Get your facts from trusted sources. Do not amplify #fakenews! pic.twitter.com/8F5ksKKBEm
No such notice has been issued by the BBMP (municipal body in Bengaluru) The Karnataka Health department has also not mentioned any such measures in their press briefings that are regularly held to contain the coronavirus.
Janasnehi-Karnataka, the official Twitter account of the public relations department of the state of Karnataka, has also denied the claim. "Kindly do not believe in any rumour until it is issued from the authentic officials as circular," they tweeted.
Dear Sir,
— ಜನಸ್ನೇಹಿ-ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ/ Janasnehi-Karnataka (@Karnataka_DIPR) March 18, 2020
Kindly do not believe in any rumor until it is issued from the authentic officials as circular.
Ref Docket: CMP01764
Regards,
Santhosh PS#Janasnehi
BBMP Mayor M Goutham Kumar also tweeted that no such orders have been passed by the administrative body.
There is no such directive from BBMP. Don't fall prey to rumours. Call 104 for any help.
— M Goutham Kumar (@BBMP_MAYOR) March 18, 2020
Help us to help you. #COVID2019india https://t.co/J7sZllErVK
Following an official rebuttal from the government, It can be the confirmed the claims of Civic Bodies spraying chemicals to kill Coronavirus is false.
If you have any news that you believe needs to be fact-checked, please email us at factcheck@thelogicalindian.com or WhatsApp at 6364000343
Also Read: Top 10 COVID-19 Myths You Almost Believed
Aditi, part of the fact checking team of The Logical Indian likes to read, write, cook and laugh, in short live life as it is supposed to be. What makes her fascinated is to discover the truth behind a story and more often than not, it is either fact or myth at the end.
As the founding editor, Bharat had been heading the newsroom during the formation years of the organization and worked towards editorial policies, conceptualizing and designing campaign strategies and collaborations. He believes that through the use of digital media, one could engage the millennial's in rational conversations about pertinent social issues, provoking them to think and bring a behavioral change accordingly.
Aditi, part of the fact checking team of The Logical Indian likes to read, write, cook and laugh, in short live life as it is supposed to be. What makes her fascinated is to discover the truth behind a story and more often than not, it is either fact or myth at the end.
Thank you for subscribing.
We have sent you a confirmation email.