New Delhi, April 9: An audio clip is being widely shared on social media platforms, especially in WhatsApp groups, in which a person can be heard saying that vegetable vendors are spreading coronavirus by licking and spitting on veggies and fruits. Fake news mongers even attempted to give the viral audio clip a communal angle and target a minority community. However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Thursday termed the audio clip as fake. Coronavirus Live Tracker Map.

"A viral audio clip is circulating on social media claiming that vegetable sellers are spreading #Covid19 by licking or spitting on vegetables/fruits. The claim made in the audio clip is false & intended to create disharmony in society," read a tweet by the PIB. Through the audio clip, a section is trying to spread fake news and making baseless allegations against certain sections of the society. Aarogya Setu App Used for Surveillance by Government of India? PIB Fact Check Debunks Fake News.

PIB Clarification on Viral Audio Clip:

Recently, an old video of a vegetable vendor licking food items went viral on social media with the false claim that he was attempting to spread coronavirus. It had turned out that the video was old and unrelated. A deluge of fake news and misinformation has erupted on social media platforms with many falling for false claims around the coronavirus outbreak.

Readers are advised not to believe everything that they receive on WhatsApp and see on Facebook and Twitter. To catch verified updates on the coronavirus outbreak, check the official website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - mohfw.gov.in - or visit LatestLY.com.

Fact check

Viral Audio Clip Claiming Vegetable Vendors Are Spreading Coronavirus by Licking, Spitting on Items is Fake
Claim :

Vegetable vendors are spreading coronavirus by licking and spitting on veggies and fruits.

Conclusion :

The claim made in viral audio clip is false.

Full of Trash
Clean

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2020 04:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).