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      • False Report Claims Water Ablution...
      Coronavirus

      False Report Claims Water Ablution Ritual Kills The Novel Coronavirus

      Indonesian news site cites doctor in publishing misleading report, health experts warn water alone cannot kill the virus.

      By - AFP |
      Published -  20 March 2020 1:49 PM IST
    • Boomlive
      False Report Claims Water Ablution Ritual Kills The Novel Coronavirus


      Multiple media reports and social media posts claim that water used in an Islamic ablution ritual can kill the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The claim is false; health experts warn that water alone cannot kill the virus and recommend that people wash their hands with soap and water for effective protection.

      This report by Gosulsel.com published on January 27, 2020 cites a doctor who claims Islamic ablution water can destroy coronavirus.

      Below is a screenshot of the misleading report:

      Screenshot of a misleading report

      The report's Indonesian language headline translates to English as: "Dr Luthfi Parewangi Says Wudhu Can Destroy Coronavirus".

      ALSO READ: Old Video Shared As Novel Coronavirus Induced Panic Buying In Germany

      Wudhu, or wudu, is an Islamic ablution ritual required before performing certain acts particularly worship. The practice is performed using plain water; the steps on how to perform it can be read here.

      Part of the report translates to English as: "In response to that matter, an internist in Makassar, Dr. dr Luthfi Parewangi, SpPD, said that Indonesian people do not have to worry about the virus.

      ALSO READ: Coronavirus Testing: 9.2 Tests Per Million, Experts Say Too Low

      "In his opinion, Indonesia is a country with abundance of water. He explained that coronavirus will be destroyed with water. One thing that can be done, particularly by Muslims, is to maintain ablution."

      Similar claims citing the same doctor were also published in other reports, including by Koran Seruya and Asianmuslim.com, and in Facebook posts here, here and here. Posts on Twitter here, here and here also shared a link to a report that contained a similar claim.

      However, the claim is false.

      "There has not been any scientific evidence to suggest that coronavirus can be killed with plain water," Dr Dirga Sakti Rambe, an internist and vaccinologist with OMNI Pulomas Hospital in Jakarta, told AFP via WhatsApp on March 11, 2020.

      Similarly, the World Health Organization's (WHO) representative in Indonesia told AFP by email on March 12, 2020, that "in order to kill the virus, WHO recommends that you wash your hands with soap and water or clean them regularly with an alcohol-based hand rub."

      ALSO READ: Australian Prime Minister Did Not Order A National Shutdown

      The agency also recommends that people "clean surfaces regularly with disinfectant -- for example kitchen benches and work desks."

      The same hand washing recommendation is also published on the WHO's official prevention guidelines here.

      Below is a screenshot guidelines:

      Screenshot of WHO's guidelines

      Moreover, the Indonesian Health Ministry also tweeted a video about how to prevent the coronavirus infection, which includes "washing hands with soap and flowing water".

      ALSO READ: What Are The Stages Of A Pandemic? How Did COVID-19 Become One?

      The ministry also advises mosques to "maintain hygiene at ablution areas and toilets with disinfectant".

      The coronavirus has infected more than 191,000 people and killed more than 7,800 worldwide since it was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, according to this WHO report on March 18, 2020.

      Follow BOOM's live blog on latest updates around the COVID-19 pandemic here.

      (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by BOOM staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

      Tags

      WudhuCoronavirusWHOIslamic water ablutionCoronavirus rumoursFake Newshealth hoaxCoronavirus updateCOVID-19Corona outbreakFact CheckDr Luthfi Parewangi
      Read Full Article
      Claim :   Water used in Islamic ablution ritual can kill the novel Coronavirus.
      Claimed By :  Dr Luthfi Parewangi on news sites gosulsel.com, koranseruya.com, asianmuslim.com
      Fact Check :  False
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