Fact Check: False message of Assam lockdown goes viral amid Covid-19 scare
A message is going viral on social media with the claim that the entire state of Assam has been locked down. India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found the claim to be false.
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India Today Fact Check
No such decision has been taken by the Assam government so far
Update: After this story was published the Assam state government has revised it's order and implemented complete lockdown in the state till March 31, 2020.
Amid restrictions on public movement and gathering in various states and districts of India to control the spread of coronavirus, a message is going viral on social media with the claim that the entire state of Assam has been locked down.
Several Facebook users such as Arun Datta and Meitei Kanto have posted a list of restrictions which they claim are the "Assam CM's Press meet Highlights". The first point says, " Entire state lockdown".
India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found the claim to be false. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has denied the viral message, calling it baseless.
The viral post claiming complete lockdown in Assam has been posted by several people on Facebook.
Sonowal's office has tweeted that the viral message is fake and the Assam government has not taken any such decision so far.
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 #COVID19outbreak . pic.twitter.com/Lphe1B1B15 Chief Minister Assam (@CMOfficeAssam) March 23, 2020
No positive case of Covid-19 has been found so far in Assam. But as a precautionary measure, the state government has banned the entry of inter-state passenger vehicles till March 31.
Sonowal is monitoring the situation along with senior officials. The CM has directed everyone to be prepared to tackle a possible Covid-19 situation. But no such complete lockdown of Assam has been announced so far.
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