COVID-19: Viral WhatsApp Message Declaring Assam Lockdown Termed as "FAKE" by Govt

Dispur, March 23, 2020:

Amid the nationwide panic over the coronavirus or COVID-19, rumour mongers have struck again via their preferred medium: WhatsApp. Through a message that is being widely circulated via the online messaging App and other social media platforms, it has been claimed that the Assam administration has declared a "complete lockdown." The Government, however, has claimed that the message is "baseless."

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The message in question, that has since been decried by the administration, contained a series of information, and claimed that the Assam Government has decided to impose total lockdown. It also claimed that no more than 4 members of the family should gather. The WhatsApp message also claims that people will be provided free ration through fair price shops for a month. All this, the message claimed, was stated by the Assam CM during a press release.

This message started circulating at a time when it is believed that the Government is contemplating a lockdown in the wake of the Centre's directives to the States to impose lockdown and punish those who do not abide by the rules. Thus, with the entire state waiting with bated breath for an announcement, the circulation of the 'fake news' on WhatsApp has sent the Assam administration into a tizzy.

Taking stock of the situation, the Assam CM immediately took to Twitter to dismiss the message as "fake". Posting a copy of the widely circulated message with the message 'FAKE' splashed across the middle, the CM captioned it, "We have noticed that this WhatsApp message is being circulated, which is completely baseless. We will let everyone know if the Govt takes any such decisions. Request everyone not to panic in our fight against COVID-19."

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The Directorate of Information and Public Relation of the Government of Assam also took to Twitter to clarify that Assam has not declared any lockdown. Now, it has been reported that the Assam Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, will meet the Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, to discuss further course of action in this regard.

Earlier, it was announced that neighboring Arunachal will impose a lockdown later today, at 5 pm. Via an order dated March 22, the Health and Family Welfare Department has listed a set of directives to be followed by the people till March 31

Firstly, all public transport services have been banned, except transport to and from hospitals and other essential places. All shops and commercial establishments have also been given directions to close down. People have been directed to stay at home and do only basic activities. Furthermore, all inter-state transport has been closed down, in a bid to dissuade the spread of the virus.

As of 10 a.m. on Monday, India had 415 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including seven people who succumbed to the disease. According to latest data from the government’s Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) a total of 18,383 samples from 17,493 individuals have been tested for SARS-CoV2.

Meanwhile, the government of India has directed the state governments to impose strict lockdowns across the country, in a bid to curtail the further spread of coronavirus. States have also been directed to take legal action against violators.

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