Fact check: A lot of misinformation and fake news has flooded social media ever since coronavirus hit India. However, not all that we read on the internet is true and it’s always better to check the facts before believing them. One such news article is going viral on social media platforms which claims that the Home Ministry has decided to close colleges and schools in India till December 31. 

However, there is no merit in the news and the article is totally false. Refuting such claims on social media, the fact check wing of the Government’s Press Information Bureau said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken no such decision on closing schools and colleges.

In a tweet, PIB debunked the claim as fake and wrote, ”Claim: In the news, it is being claimed that the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to close schools and colleges by 31 December. #PIBFactCheck: This claim is fake. The Home Ministry has not issued any such order.”

The Press Information Bureau launched this fact-checking arm in December 2019, to curb misinformation and fake news prevalent on the internet. It claimed that its objective was “to identify misinformation related to government’s policies and schemes that are circulating on various social media platforms”.

The government has time and again, urged people not to share such unconfirmed reports and trust only reliable sources.

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.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted via video conferencing with chief ministers of states that are witnessing a surge in coronavirus cases to review the COVID-19 situation. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal informed the prime minister that Delhi saw a peak of 8,600 coronavirus cases on November 10 during the third wave and since then, the number of cases as well as the positivity rate is steadily decreasing, sources said. Kejriwal told the prime minister that the severity of the third wave in the national capital is due to several factors, including air pollution, and sought his help over the issue of stubble burning in neighboring states.
.The Delhi CM also sought reservation of an additional 1,000 ICU beds in central government hospitals till the third wave lasts.India saw 37,975 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day taking the country’s COVID-19 caseload to 91.77 lakh, while the recoveries crossed 86 lakh, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. The total coronavirus cases mounted to 91,77,840 and the death toll climbed to 1,34,218 with 480 new fatalities, including 121 from the national capital alone. The number of active cases remained below 5 lakh for the fourteenth consecutive day. There are 4,38,667 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country now which comprises 4.78 percent of the total caseload.