Doha: Ministry of Interior (MoI) has warned against circulating rumours or fake news on social media.
“Involvement in spreading or circulating rumours is a serious offence and may expose you to legal accountability,” MoI tweeted.
“The competent authorities will summon those who publish and circulate rumours and all legal measures will be taken against them,” they added.
As new coronavirus cases are being reported in the country, there have been instances of much fake news being spread on social media creating confusion among the public.
The latest fake news being circulated on social media said that a prominent shopping mall is closed due to the coronavirus along with a picture of an ambulance. In reality, it was a medical emergency (not coronavirus related) to one of the customers and the ambulance was there to transport him to the hospital.
MoI urged people to get the information from original sources and to stay away from rumours and anonymous stories.
Even MoPH officials in a press conference held today debunked the rumour that there is a death in the country due to the coronavirus.
“There is no truth in rumours of the death of a COVID-19 positive patient in Qatar,” the official said during the conference.
They cautioned people against rumours on social media and urged everyone to follow official channels for correct information.
As a senior official pointed out many people are taking pictures of any ambulance they spot and are sharing it in groups saying there are coronavirus cases.
