New Delhi (NVI): A viral message is doing rounds on social media platforms, including WhatsApp claiming that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued a set of new guidelines as precautionary measures for COVID-19.
The fake message is also being widely circulated on other social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Taking note of the viral message, the Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has clarified that the ICMR has not issued these guidelines and shared few points that to prevent the spread of COVID-19, wear a mask, sanitise hands and practice social distancing.
Taking to Twitter, PIB fact check wrote, “A Fake message attributed to @ICMRDELHI stipulates guidelines to be followed as precautionary measures for #COVID19.
ICMR has NOT issued these guidelines. To prevent the spread of #COVID19: Wear a mask, Sanitise hands and Practice social distancing.”
A #Fake message attributed to @ICMRDELHI stipulates guidelines to be followed as precautionary measures for #COVID19.
ICMR has NOT issued these guidelines.
To prevent the spread of #COVID19:
➡️Wear a mask
➡️Sanitise hands
➡️Practice social distancing#PIBFactCheck pic.twitter.com/IW0GGU2LAY— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) February 22, 2021
The viral message attributed to the ICMR urges people to postpone their foreign trips for the next 2 years, not to eat outside food for 1 year, be very careful in the coming week, and prefer vegetarian food, among several other measures.
ICMR advises on following COVID-19 protocols at all time, but these guidelines doing the rounds on the social media have not been issued by the ICMR.
All social media platforms are flooded with fake news and misinformation around coronavirus since the outbreak in India. Therefore, the government had recently urged people not to fall a prey to such fake rumours about COVID-19.
-RJV
