Srinagar, May 10 (KNS): The Government is grappling with not only the rising number of Covid cases but fake news circulated on social media regarding the pandemic.

An official said that there is so much of information bombardment on social media that it becomes difficult for anyone to differentiate between fake and genuine information.

A health official who is associated with one of the leading hospitals said that it consumes a lot of their resources to check whether the information related to the institution is real or fake.

He said that a trend has started in some so-called media professionals to announce deaths in Kashmir hospitals during the last 24 hours.

"There is no authenticity of the data. They don't quote any official. They just publish the names and address of the victims. In times of pandemic reporters should wait for official versions rather than falling in breaking news mad race," he told KNS.

Recently Kashmir Press Club had to issue a statement regarding the trespassing of some persons masquerading as journalists in hospitals.

Now Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar has established media desks alongside designating spokespersons aimed to ‘contain misinformation’ amid unprecedented COVID-19 situation.

In a circular, the Principal-cum-Dean GMC has impressed upon all the Doctors, Officers, officials of GMC Srinagar and its Associated Hospitals to “refrain from posting any Institutional information on any Social Media Networking site in order to avoid misunderstanding, panic, chaos and law and order situation among masses”.(KNS)