Is government spraying coronavirus vaccine using airplanes? No, it’s fake news

The claim is false.

Updated on: Mar 20, 2020, 14:44:04 IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Trisha Sengupta

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There’s a chance that you may have received Whatsapp forward or came across posts about government spraying medicine in the air to kill coronavirus, beware – the claim is false.

The image shared by PIB debunks the false claim. (Twitter/PIB)

“Hello I kindly request you not to come out of your house after 10 pm tonight till tomorrow 5 am.... As there will be spraying medicine in the air in order to kill the COVID-19!! Share this information to all your friends, relatives and your families. Thank you! This is for people in Delhi. Entire city. Helicopter spraying,” this message is now being shared. Besides Delhi, the it is also in circulation with different city names – namely Bengaluru and Chandigarh.

Whatsapp forward shared with Hindustan Times.

Government of India’s press information bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check Twitter handle debunked the claim. They took to Twitter to combat this misinformation and wrote “NO such action has been planned out by the Indian Government.” The agency further added, “get your facts from trusted sources. Do not amplify fake news.”

Yesterday, PIB debunked another fake news related to coronavirus. They pointed out that a press release by Malaysian government on restricted movement is being falsely shared with the claim that it’s from India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta
Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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