The ‘news’ that the Chinese officials are seeking approval to kill 20,000 people to stop the spread of new Coronavirus surprised everyone across the globe.
On February 5, the website ab-tc.com (aka City News) published an article that claimed Chinese officials sought approval of the Supreme People’s Court to start mass killing of 20,000 people infected with Coronavirus.
The report also said that China is on the verge of losing its health workers to Coronavirus as at least 20 health workers contract the virus daily.
But, the news has been found to be Fake.
BOOM (www.boomlive.in), which is an initiative to fight misinformation and especially Fake news, has reported that the news by ab-tc.com is “totally false”.
It said the viral article originated from a dubious website ab-tc.com, which has a history of publishing hoaxes and misinformation.
Even Snopes (Snopes.com), which is internet’s definitive fact-checking resource, said it is not a genuine news report.
The Snopes said the ab-tc.com website does not carry any disclaimers labeling its content as fiction, and it found a number of red flags concerning the legitimacy of the outlet’s reporting.
The website is full of junk news stories, the Snopes said.
A July 2010 article (still featured on the homepage) carries the headline, “BREAKING: New York Giants coach Pat Shurmur has died.”
But Shurmur did not die in 2010, and is still alive.
The website had also published articles about “cannibal restaurants”, death hoaxes about celebrity couples, doctored tweets from US President Donald Trump, and that Prince Andrew had committed suicide.
All the articles of ab-tc.com were later found to be fake.
None of the ab-tc.com articles carry the reporters’ bylines. All the reports are written by “local correspondents”, and do not quote any official.
Other media outlets reported that officials in China ordered in Wuhan to immediately round up all residents infected with the Coronavirus and place them in isolation, quarantine or designated hospitals.