Reporter's Diary: When social media created another coronavirus case

The news of the first positive case of COVID-19 had caused enough panic among the people and drew media attention towards Chennai as the patient was admitted to RGGGH in the city. As the patient tested positive after about a week since his arrival in India, the speculation of more number of positive cases were high. 

Meanwhile, State Health Secretary Beela Rajesh, at a press conference, mentioned about another suspected case. Though the lab test results were awaited and it was only a suspected case, some on social media reported it as another confirmed case, from where the national media too picked it up. When this reporter contacted a senior official from the State Health Department, the official denied the news and even appreciated the local media for clarifying the news before going to town with what they heard on social media. The official said very often the reporters give the press meets a miss and report whatever is online, thus creating confusion.

— Shweta Tripathi