In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic causing thousands of deaths all over the globe, a video of dead bodies washed up ashore which was purported as COVID-19 victims who are being thrown into the sea is circulating online.
However, it was immediately reported by several fact-checking sites that there is no truth to the video and that it is only one of the many fake news stories which spreads faster than the virus.
The video was first shared by Twitter user Dev Oza who claimed that some countries are throwing the bodies of their COVID-19 fatalities into the ocean. He also said in the post that the world is already ending and asked God to intervene. Soon after it went viral and the user was questioned for his credibility, Oza took down the post.
However, right before it was taken down, the post has already become viral and caused alarm and panic in many online users. Theories discussing the possibility of the disease to become waterborne, travel across oceans and that animals can now be easily infected.
In relation to this, an advisory is also being sent out to people to avoid eating seafood in fear of contracting the virus.
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The Truth
According to Alt News, who first reported the post as another fake news about coronavirus, the video has nothing to do with the pandemic that the world is currently facing.
The viral post was actually a clip from an old video of African immigrants and was washed into a Libyan shore after a shipwreck. The video was originally posted in Youtube in August 2014 by Euronews.
Thus, this confirms that there is no truth that dead bodies of coronavirus victims are being dumped in the ocean.
A Fake News Pandemic
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate the world, a different pandemic is also adding fuel to the fire. The rampant spread of fake news is causing more panic and alarm in a world that is already stricken with fear amidst this worldwide crisis.
People nowadays mostly rely on the internet for information. However, the internet is where most of these false information come from. With the ease of access, it also makes it easier for those who spread unfactual information.
Major social media companies, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have already improved their databases and have set up protocols and practices in order to mitigate the spread of false information.
In addition, the World Health Organization also has a post on their websites which include reliable information regarding the pandemic. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public by WHO is a page where the health agency busts myths and misinformation about the virus.
Aside from WHO, other government agencies and health organizations have also made their move, in efforts to control the spread of disinformation in connection to the virus. Some has partnered with tech giants in order to ensure that the public received factual and accurate information as to not cause a domino effect of fear and panic.
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