The Health Ministry labelled a WhatsApp message encouraging individuals to participate in a COVID poll as ‘fake’ and deceptive on Thursday.
“#FactCheck “This letter that is circulating in several WhatsApp groups is FAKE and DECEPTIVE,” the Health Ministry stated in a tweet:
https://twitter.com/MoHFW INDIA/status/1593237606799929349?s=20&t=75WMmr91iym2tOWWE-DqOw
The viral message stated that a Coronavirus survey was being conducted blockwise on a population over the age of 18 from January to March 2023, and invited individuals to participate.
“You are hereby offered a huge social responsibility based on your good past raconds to conduct a SURVEY on Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2 or Covid 19) at the following districts of West Bengal, India: Hooghly, Howrah, Burdwan East, Burdwan West, Malda, Murshidabad, Jhargram, Birbhum, Nadia and Medinipur East,” the message read.
The letter also encouraged individuals to visit the designated regions and examine the protective measures in place.
The message also stated that the participants will be given cash to help them find workers.