Corona virus – myths, facts and law

Mahak Jain:-

1] Janta Curfew

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a 29-minute televised address asking Indians to take precautionary measures against the coronavirus and to observe a “janta curfew” from 7 am to 9 pm on Sunday to half the spread of infection.

What is a Janata curfew? 

Janata curfew or self-curfew is a self-imposed lockdown. The Janata curfew is followed by the people with their own conscience and will. There will be no penal actions on going outside of the house. Janata curfew is being imposed in India to prepare people better for social distancing in the hours of need.
-Since then, several social media users have posted a message claiming that the coronavirus has a life cycle of 12 hours. The message says that the 14-hour curfew will help to break the chain and curb the spread of the virus. This message has been widely shared in English, Hindi and various other languages with the hashtag #JantaCurfew.

Fact Check :

Thus, an individual infected with coronavirus can pass on the infection to another person for upto 14 days. Also, the coronavirus could be detected up to two or three days on plastic and stainless steel surfaces. The results from this study indicate that the coronavirus can be transmitted through aerosols (clusters of the virus in the air) aerosol and fomites (objects such as plastic, steel, other metals contaminated with the virus) are plausible, as the virus can remain viable in aerosols for multiple hours and on surfaces up to days.
A 14-hour self-imposed curfew cannot break the cycle of infection as it is being claimed on social media. Despite the fact that the curfew will not break the cycle of infection as the coronavirus still persists two or three days later on surfaces, the social lockdown is an effective strategy for reducing new infections that “flattens the curve”.

2] Coronavirus is destroyed in heat

we have been hearing and waiting for summers just to get rid of this deadly virus. But is this true? Let’s find out. Some facts are that Coronavirus stays active for 8-10 days on dry surfaces. And that it survives in the human body at 37 degree Celsius. Like all viruses they are destroyed when heated. However, what is still unknown is that the exact threshold temperature to destroy COVID-19 and it is a scary situation to be in. Research is still going on in this regard.

Fact Check :

COVID-19 virus has now spread across the world and has infected more than 110 countries. Scientists are still struggling to find a cure or vaccine for it. Widely speculated that as the season changes, temperature will kill the virus, or we have heard lines like – stay in sunshine, increase body heat, then the virus will not harm you – we suggest let us not believe such things till there is concrete evidence or an official guideline to this effect.

The only proven, effective measure to contain the spread is by social distancing and maintaining proper hygiene. However, the coronavirus is known to be sensitive to three things, according to some experts – while not necessary in this order — sunlight and High temperature.

INDIAN LAWS & CORONAVIRUS

Indian laws governing are : Section 269,270,505 of the Indian Penal Code,1860 and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act,2000. 

Section 269 of the Indian Penal Code : Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life.—Whoever unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both. The offence is considered as cognizable and bailable.

Section 270 of the Indian Penal Code : Whoever malignantly does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. The offence is considered as cognizable and bailable.

Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code : Whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report, with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility. The offence is considered as non cognizable and non bailable in nature.

Section 66 of the Information Technology Act : punishment for sending “offensive” messages through a computer or any other communication device like a mobile phone or a tablet. A conviction can fetch a maximum of three years in jail and a fine. The offence is considered as cognizable and bailable.