Amitabh Bachchan had posted a tweet saying claps and conch shell vibrations reduce/destroy the virus, a claim that PIB had already busted.
Mumbai| The world is fighting an unprecedented misinformation war around the coronavirus outbreak. Renowned Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan fell prey to one such forward.
On 22nd March, PM Modi had given a call for ‘Janata Curfew’ urging citizens to follow isolation for 14 hours in the light of coronavirus outbreak. He had also urged to participate in applauding the health workers who are fighting on the front in saving lives. To show gratitude to them, Modi had appealed everyone to gather in their respective balconies, doors at 5 PM to clap and make sounds with any object they can to appreciate the work of health workers.
After the appeal of PM Modi, a flurry of fake messages spread across which claimed that loud sound can kill or destroy the viruses, a piece of unscientific and false information. Many leaders including Shaina NC and Superstar Rajinikanth fell prey to the forward.
Amitabh Bachchan on Monday posted the same forward on his Twitter handle.
He wrote, “T 3479 – AN OPINION GIVEN : 5 pm ; 22nd Mar, ‘amavasya’, darkest day of month ;virus, bacteria evil force at max potential & power ! Clapping shankh vibrations reduce/ destroy virus potency Moon passing to new ‘nakshatra’ Revati. cumulative vibration betters blood circulation.”
He although began his tweet with “AN OPINION GIVEN”.
Despite PIB (Press Information Bureau, a nodal agency circulating news from Government of India to media) had clarified Yesterday that the clapping or other sounds don’t kill the coronavirus, Amitabh Bachchan still fell prey to the misinformation.
NO ! The vibration generated by clapping together will NOT destroy #Coronavirus infection#PIBFactCheck: The #JantaCurfew clapping initiative at 5pm is to express gratitude towards the Emergency staff working selflessly to counter #coronavirusinindia #Covid19India pic.twitter.com/WHfK4guxys
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) March 22, 2020
Several Bollywood actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Ranveer Singh, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif, Varun Dhawan, Karisma Kapoor participated in applauding the health workers at 5 PM on Sunday.
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