As fake news and myths about Coronavirus flood social media, PIB Fact Check counters them

As scare of Coronavirus continues to grip people, social media has become a battlefield between countless pieces of rumours, misinformation, and fake news, and facts. Leading charge to debunk misinformation and myths and educate netizens of facts has been Press Information Bureau's special fact-checking Twitter handle — PIB Fact Check. p was started in December last year to counter misinformation on government policies/schemes during anti-CAA agitation.

handle has been regularly posting illustrations with facts and figures on viral fake news that circulates often on social media. In its profile bio, p has mentioned email address — pibfactcheck@gmail.com — on which users can send pieces of unconfirmed information, which ncy will n look into and post wher it's fake news.

Gargling with warm water mixed with salt, vinegar won't cure Coronavirus

On Monday, PIB Fact Check countered a piece of fake news which said that Coronavirus can be treated by gargling with warm water mixed with salt and vinegar.  fake viral mess had claimed that before reaching lungs of humans, Coronavirus remains in throat for four days, leading to cough and throat pain in an affected person.

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You can't get Coronavirus from your pets

As Coronavirus, also called COVID-19, is believed to have originated in an illegal wildlife market in central Chinese city of Wuhan last year, re have been rumours that virus can be transmitted to owners of cats and dogs from ir pets. PIB Fact Check, however, maintained that re is evidence backing such claims and instead ted that personal hygiene should be followed.

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Here are some or myths that PIB Fact Check has busted

Coronavirus crisis

COVID-19 has affected nearly 148 countries in world. re are over 168,019 confirmed cases of infection which has led to death of at least 7,000 people. As re is vaccine or specific antiviral medicine to treat COVID-19, countries have been grappling with all possible mechanisms to contain its scope. So far, China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran have witnessed most number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus. India has confirmed 114 cases, with two deaths.

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