Medanta, a chain of specialty hospitals, has denied a viral audio clip on ways to take care during COVID-19 outbreak, attributed to its chairman and managing director, Dr Naresh Trehan. The audio message is being shared at a time when there is a surge in COVID-19 cases across the nation, and there is a second wave of coronavirus.
The audio voice says, “I am going to give you a very special message that I received from China, Italy and WHO. On a personal observation, the dangerous time has started from 23, but from 27 the situation is going to become grave. You must have heard that the last four days and the upcoming 4 days, these 8 days are crucial, as coronavirus takes 8 days for incubation and from tomorrow it is the 9th day, so there will be a surge in cases of coronavirus, so ensure you do not leave home. If you want to get bread or anything then order it on phone and let your watchman receive it, or wear a mask or gloves before taking anything from anyone. I am again repeating the danger will start from tomorrow and this incubation day will start from tomorrow when more positive cases will start coming in. So, this is very essential for us that we need to stay at home. I am also telling you that the kids and adult in your home can easily be affected by the coronavirus, so do not think that we are just wandering in our building or our locality. It was earlier told to maintain a social distance of 3 feet but now that coronavirus can be transmitted through 6 feet as well. What happened in Italy? First fifteen days they thought there is nothing like this, there are no COVID-19 cases, but when from the 9th day, the cases started coming, and the situation became gruesome, then thousands of people were infected, and many died. If anyone comes to meet you, your neighbour or relatives, then tell them that once the situation goes well after 14, then we will meet. And I am telling you once again, distant yourself from people who are having fever, cold or are sneezing, and if you are having COVID-19, then get yourself treated, don’t just opt for home remedies. Please share my message with everyone, as the crucial days are starting from midnight today to 14th April, i.e., from April 3, a crucial phase is starting, so stay home and gargle using lukewarm water and salt and drinking lukewarm water is essential. Do not eat refrigerated food. Hope you stay healthy.”
Medanta is an Indian chain of multi-specialty medical institutes based in Gurgaon in the National Capital Region of India. Medanta was started in 2009 with one institute, Medanta – The Medicity in Gurgaon, with cardiac surgeon Naresh Trehan as its main director along with co-founder Sunil Sachdeva. Medanta has repeatedly taken to social media to refute these claims last year as well as recently. Recently, the verified handle of Medanta tweeted a representation of this message stating that it is fake. They also posted the clarification on Facebook. “There is a message circulating on WhatsApp in Dr. Naresh Trehan’s name. If the message has not come from the official channels of Medanta Hospital, please do not forward it. Be aware of such false and dangerous news!”
Hence, the viral audio message is not from Dr Trehan.
