Janta curfew in India will help break the chain of transmission.
In a much-awaited address on the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a ‘Janata’ curfew on Sunday, 22 March. The curfew will start from 7 am on Sunday and will end at 9 pm on the same day. He stated that this will be “for the people and by the people of India.”, Following the address, a message that went viral on social media claimed that this ‘Janta Curfew’ will make India a safer country based on this logic:, Coronavirus stays on surfaces for a maximum of 12 hours. The curfew is for 14 hours. So the places where the virus lives will not be touched for 14 hours, which will break the chain on infection and make India safe., The message soon started circulating on social media platforms., The novel coronavirus, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, can be stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces, according to a significant study published in the New England Journal of Medicine., Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles in the US found that the virus could be acquired through the air and by touching contaminated objects., By mimicking the virus being deposited from a COVID-19 confirmed patient onto surfaces in homes and hospital settings by coughing or touching objects, the scientists found:, Based on these findings, it was concluded that people infected with SARS-CoV-2 could spread the virus without or before experiencing symptoms of the disease., Importantly, the World Health Organisation has maintained that it is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses., “If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others”, the organisation said., Here, it is clear that the claim of the message that ‘the life of the virus is 12 hours’ is scientifically baseless., Another way this claim is deprived of logic is that it fails to consider individuals who are already infected but undiagnosed, and who would still be out in public after the curfew has been lifted., Dr Sumit Ray, a critical care specialist in Delhi NCR, called the claim ‘absolutely illogical’ and said,, The incubation period for the virus - which means the time it takes for symptoms to start appearing - can last up to 14 days. Infected people would continue to be carriers of the virus (unknowingly) and pass it on to others., This is exactly why social distancing and self-quarantine are being consistently stressed upon., "(Not convinced of a post or information you came across on social media and want it verified? Forward it to +919643651818 on WhatsApp or e-mail at WebQoof@TheQuint.com and well fact-check ✔ it for you.)", "(Make sure you dont miss fresh news updates from us. Click here to stay updated)", Stay tuned with our weekly recap of what’s hot & cool by The Quint.
Viral Message Claims that Coronavirus Lives on Surfaces for 12 Hours & PM Narendra Modi’s Janta Curfew Will Last 14 Hours, Will Make India Safe from COVID-19