FAKE NEWS ALERT: W.H.O did NOT say Covid-19 isn't contagious
The Government of India has warned people against falling for the fake news about the World Health Organisation taking a complete 360 turn and saying that asymptomatic Covid-19 patients needn’t be isolated or quarantined.
FollowThere have been reports that have resurfaced off late about the World Health Organisation taking a complete 360 turn and saying that asymptomatic Covid-19 patients needn’t be isolated or quarantined as they cannot spread the virus.
The claim cites a June 2014 video of WHO technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove saying that "from the data we have, it seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a second individual."
This, obviously, is fake news.
Yet, this fake news has refused to die on social media and on messaging platforms.
Now, the Government of India has warned people against falling for this fake news and to compulsorily follow precautions like wearing masks, social distancing.
And this is W.H.O's clarfication that came the very next day when the video was shared.
W.H.O Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "Since early February, we have said that asymptomatic people can transmit Covid-19, but that we need more research to establish the extent of asymptomatic transmission. That research is ongoing. But here’s what we do know: that finding, isolating and testing people with symptoms, and tracing and quarantining their contacts, is the most critical way to stop Covid-19 transmission"
