“Covid-19 didn’t hurt me as much as death rumours”

ZARANJ (Pajhwok): Following the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country, some people have spread rumours about the death and infection of others on social media, forcing purported victims to counter speculation.

Dr. Mirwais Ahmadi, head of the Dr. Mirwais Ahmadi Health Clinic in Zaranj, had to deal with this type of propaganda. He contracted the coronavirus in late May and recovered from the disease after 14-day quarantine.

In an interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Mirwais said that when he was quarantined, posts regarding his death circulated on Facebook.

He added: “When I was ailing, some of my friends called to say they have come to learn about my death from Covid-19. I was very upset why people are spreading such rumors.”

He added: “The coronavirus did not hurt me as much as the rumour of my death on social media. I urge my compatriots not to spread rumors about what they are not sure of. I ask them not to spread rumors against each other.”

Dr. Mirwais posted a video on his Facebook page to scotch the speculation. He said: “Brothers! Life and death is in the hands of God. A disease comes to everyone, I’m in better condition and healthy.

“It has been rumored on social media that Dr. Mirwais is dead, Dr. Mirwais has not brought the revelation of life, one day he dies, but right now I’m good and I ask you not to believe the rumors.”

Some social media users recently speculated Mohammad Mohaqiq, head of the Wahdat-i-Islami Party, had died from the coronavirus. He is very much alive — not infected with Covid-19.

Several interviewees regretted that many deaths had wrongly been attributed to the coronavirus following its outbreak. They blamed social media users for inaccurately linking their deaths to the coronavirus.

A Pajhwok report said on November 8 one of the Lameh Shaheed High School principals had died from triglycerides. She was not infected with the coronavirus, but her death was caused by other diseases such as blood cholesterol and liver issues.

The first positive case of the coronavirus in Afghanistan was recorded on 24 February in yen western province of Herat.

sa/mud

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