Fake news regarding Covid-19 causing tizzies within society

According to George Bernard Shaw, "Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance". Today we are living in information and digital bubbles that make us susceptible to anything disseminated by our chosen information, true or false. As we all know, SARS-Cov-2, pandemic has hit hard almost every sector of Pakistan. However, the main grim which is been faced by our society is that some pseudo people are adding fuel to fire by spreading fake news regarding COVID-19. 

We all are listening to news on daily basis about 3rd wave and instructions to mitigate it that one should wear mask, should stay at home, all pentagenarian and hexagenerian plus people should visit prescribed centres for inoculation of vaccines and others. But in rural areas, fickle minded people seem that they have no fear of COVID, which is deeply settling, and also they are busy in misguiding others. 

Common speculations which these people are spreading are: do not wear masks because it is sedatious or perhaps a plan of western countries to put chemicals in men's beard; do not go to hospitals because doctors are been instructed to declare anyone a corona patient. Further they will receive million dollars per patient/death. Other is, do not take vaccine shots because after two doses, one will be die within six months (my housemaid used this as a spin a tale) and many more such news which are sending other people into tizzy. 

None other than me, I also used to reckon that young people owing to strong immune system are safe from this and they do not need any precautions but when one who is very close to my heart suffered from this perilous and when my father’s bosom friend died because of this disease, then my relentless thoughts were changed which is mystifying.

Now the million dollars question is how this arduous will put to an end. First, we should educate our proximities people and keep this on as a preach. Secondly, institutions should arrest or punish such people on spreading fake news and try disclosing such groups. Thirdly, we should immunize people against fake news. Fourthly, government should keep check on fake news platforms by emulating Australian government practice of eliminating fake news propaganda. Lastly, we should not immediately believe on what we listen or read from social media because the social media is also a fact fudging gutter.

Stay safe,

UMAR KHAWAJA