Claim: Since the start of the pandemic there have been several theories claiming to be a magical cure for the deadly virus. However, the latest one doing rounds on WhatsApp and social media is the use of antimalarial drug chloroquinine to enhance immunity. A misleading message claims that all the people treated in Rajasthan, the first Indian state to get affected by COVID-19, were given this anti-malarial drug. It further advises people to have a dose of 400 mg tablet, twice or thrice in a week.
Fact-check: 100 fake COVID-19 WhatsApp forwards that we almost believed - First Check
Verdict: the forwarded message is not just misleading and irresponsible but it can prove life-threatening too as the drug in question has several side-effects. infact, there have been several reports of poisonings in nigeria where people were self-medicating with chloroquine against covid-19.
Organisation: First Check
Author: Deepika Khurana
Date published: 2020-06-12T00:13:42