Will Covid-19 succumb to lies?

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare tweeted, “Some anti-social elements are spreading misinformation that after today’s #JantaCurfew ends, the deadly virus will be wished away. They’re exhorting people to come outdoors after 9 pm. This is false & an attempt to mislead the public. #SocialDistancing must be adopted as a habit.”

Yes…
It is suicidal to lend your ears to such misinformation at this point in time even if it is said by eminent personalities or celebrities.

⛔️To those who believed that the coronavirus will get killed within 12 hours…

✔️Corona group of viruses may survive for hours to days outside the human body. This depends on several factors including the type of surface, temperature, and humidity. A preliminary study on this matter has revealed that the virus can survive on copper for up to 4 hours, cardboard for 1 day and plastic or steel for up to 3 days.

⛔To those who believed that clapping or ringing bells together would make a vibration in the atmosphere which will destroy the coronavirus…

✔️This initiative was proposed as a token of appreciation to the health care workers who are working relentlessly to fight coronavirus. Similar events were conducted in many countries like Spain, Italy as well. It is indeed a good effort to appreciate the health care workers, but it is a fact that such noise or vibration CANNOT kill the coronavirus.

Furthermore, a better acknowledgment for their sacrifices would be :

?the public strictly adhering to the government instructions to prevent the spread of virus including hand hygiene and physical distancing.

?ensuring an adequate supply of personal protective equipment including masks for the health care workers.

?ensuring adequate infrastructure including ventilators and isolation facilities.

The key objective of Janata curfew was to stress the importance of physical distancing in preventing the community transmission of COVID19.
Unfortunately, the very purpose of the initiative was nearly nullified by the gatherings which occurred during the panic shopping by the public on the previous day of the curfew fearing a lockdown. The group clapping/ringing bells at 5 pm also ended up violating the idea of physical distancing which even took the form of a street procession at places.

⛔To those who gathered outside today believing the above-said misinformation…

?The coming days are crucial for us. On the verge of a complete lockdown, believing and propagating such lies will only weaken our efforts to curb COVID19. We shouldn’t allow our India to become another Italy, Iran or China…that should be our aim and that should be our only aim.

?Your life is precious, please don’t risk it. Follow the instructions of the World Health Organization (WHO).