Soon after COVID-19 misinformation on WhatsApp took over with various viral

messages falsely attributed to UNICEF giving false information on the virus size, its
lifespan, and that it can’t survive in warm temperatures and claims about gargling
with warm saltwater. I co-authored two articles with Dr Sumaiya titled “​Sci-check:
Coronavirus advisory falsely attributed to UNICEF viral on social medi​a and
“​Sci-check: Do masks help to prevent the spread of coronavirus?​ to debunk these
and related claims, at the same time providing relevant available COVID-19
information to educate the audience.

Thereafter, when the misinformation about gargling saltwater resurfaced with claims
about vinegar, I, along with Kinjal, our colleague at Alt News addressed them in a
Hindi article titled “​साइंस-चेक: गम पानी म नमक या सरका कोरोना वायरस ख़ म नह ं करता,
इस अफ़वाह से ब चए”, due to the demographics of the people who consumed
vernacular misinformation.

A viral message attributed to partly fictitious medical experts was viral with claims
that Vitamin C can cure COVID-19 bundled with misinformation on cancer and HIV
which I debunked in the investigative piece titled “​No, Vitamin C and lemon-infused
hot water do not protect against coronavirus or cancer​” along with guest writers
Peeyush and Alka.

An Ayurved called Parameshwar Arora going around in the streets with a

microphone, speaking to residents from the rooftop of his Audi that COVID-19 could
be cured through various home remedies. Various news platforms sensationalised
him. We debunked his claims in detail in the piece titled “​Home remedies by Ayurved
Parameshwar Arora: Are they effective in curing coronavirus?​” Apart from debunking
the claims, the article also covered a detailed research on the home remedies being
touted for COVID-19 prevention and cure.

I took part in a series of articles aimed at debunking the AYUSH ministry’s promotion
of ‘immunity boosters’ like Ayush Kwath/Kaadha in a piece titled “​AYUSH Kwath or
Kadha cannot ‘boost’ immunity to fight against COVID-19​”. This piece also covered a
detailed literature search on the side effects of these herbs. Our work predated
ground reports of overzealous use of herbal medicines for COVID-19 resulting in
side effects.

Thereafter a globally popular set of conspiracy theories about the nature and
treatment of COVID-19 made multiple rounds in India in various formats. I debunked
two aspects of these claims in detail in two articles titled ​COVID-19 is not a bacterial
infection, false claim viral on social media​ and ​Italy defeated COVID-19?
Misinformation-riddled conspiracy theory viral​. Other parts of the claim like
COVID-19 can be cured with antibiotics and that it is just a thrombotic disorder will
be debunked shortly.
A series of detailed investigative pieces about the growing popularity of COVID-19
denialist/conspiracy theorists in India are in the works, and I hope to continue my
contribution to Alt News Science as a growing Science Fact-checker and writer.

The living spreadsheet covering all latest Alt news Science articles and other Alt
news articles related to COVID-19 can be found ​here​.