A viral video “Corona enters Barak Valley” showing a prescription is FAKE claim

March 23: It seems that the market of Fake News is ripe in Barak Valley and also in the entire state. From Sunday evening, a prescription was in circulation, primarily in Whatapp and other social media platforms, in the valley. On Monday, a video was made by someone with this still photo. A female voice could be heard in this video, who narrated that the first positive case of coronavirus has entered Barak Valley and the individual was admitted to the ICU of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH). But on fact check, team way2barak found that the information in this video is indeed FAKE.

On investigation, it was revealed that on that prescription of one Mridul Das, a note by a doctor was there on the top, which reads, “Admit in COVID-19 isolation ward.” That was enough for the rumour mongers to spread the fake news that “Corona enters Barak Valley.” However, the fact remains that those who are coming to the district from other countries or state are quarantined. Sometimes, if any such persons have temperature then they are sent to isolation wards which are designated as COVID-19 Isolation Wards. But this does not mean that they are COVID-19 positive patients.

However, we are not claiming that the prescription is fake. The prescription may be real, but mere writing “Admit in COVID-19 isolation ward” by doctors does not mean that the patient is COVID-19 positive. So good sense should prevail and common people should not use their “common sense” in interpreting medical terminologies about which we have no knowledge.

Barnali Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, Babul Kumar Bezbarua, Principal of SMCH, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal- all have claimed that there are no COVID-19 positive cases in Assam till now.

The prime issue which comes at this juncture is that persons spreading such type of FAKE NEWS should not be left and rather they should be identified by the administration and proper punitive action should be adopted against such persons. Speaking to way2barak, an Advocate of Silchar said, “This is a severe offence. I would like to urge upon the district administration to initiate strict action against such persons.”

However, as a precautionary measure, 3 persons were kept in isolation in Cachar district. Those kept in isolation are aged 79, 30 and 21 years. Till now, a total of 52 persons were quarantined in Cachar. The 3 of them were kept in NIT Silchar and the rest were home quarantined.

A message has been circulating in social media since Monday morning stating that Assam government has declared a lockdown in the state. It was specified in the said message that “Lockdown announced in Assam for 5 days.” However, this is entirely a FAKE NEWS circulated in social media. Further, in the said Fake News, it was stated, “CM Press Meet Highlights” wherein 15 points were written where the 1st point read, “Entire state lockdown.” But on fact check, it was found that CM Assam has not hold and press meet in this regard and the news of lockdown is assam is FAKE.

Also Read: Lockdown order in Assam is a FAKE one, stay away from rumours