IT-S-VIRAL / Viral audio clip claiming vendors spreading COVID-19 by licking vegetables fake: Govt

A viral audio clip is circulating on social media claiming that vegetable sellers are spreading coronavirus by licking or spitting on vegetables and fruits. "The claim made in audio clip is false & intended to create disharmony in society," the government clarified. The government urged people to not believe in rumours and verify news related to coronavirus from official sources.

Hindustan Times : Apr 10, 2020, 08:11 AM
New Delhi: Multiple misleading claims related to coronavirus are going viral on social media. While some fake content is related to advice and treatments, others attempt to spread fear among people. One such fake audio clip claiming that vegetable sellers are spreading Covid-19 by licking or spitting on vegetables or fruits has gone viral. Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Twitter handle debunked this claim as false in a recent post.

“A viral audio clip is circulating on social media claiming that vegetable sellers are spreading #Covid19 by licking or spitting on vegetables/fruits,” the agency tweeted. “The claim made in the audio clip is false and intended to create disharmony in society,” they added.

Further, they also shared a link to a circular by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

A few days ago, PIB’s fact check handle debunked another similar fake claim. A video was being shared online with a false claim that it shows a group of people licking plates in order to spreading the deadly coronavirus.