KATHMANDU: False rumors about COVID-19 have started spreading like a wildfire in social media, of late.

An audio clip asking you to remove your clothes from the balcony as your building will be sprayed with disinfectants from special army helicopters has started circulating in social networking sites.

Government authorities have categorically denied social media messages that claimed that the government is spraying pesticides or disinfectants from the sky from 12 midnight to fight against the spread of novel coronavirus.

Nepal Army (NA) Spokesperson Brigadier General Bigyandev Pandey refuted it a rumor.

“NA is not preparing for the act. The government has not formulated any such plans either. All of these are rumors. Those spreading rumors should be brought to book”, Pandey said.

Nepal Police have arrested a youth on the charge of making public a misleading audio clip about COVID-19 that has become viral on social networking sites of late.

The arrested is Bibek Thapa Magar, 20 of Ramechhap and currently living in Bhaktapur.

The one-minute audio has said Norvic Hospital had coronavirus cases and it was informed by the employee there.

The audio viral on social networking sites have panicked people and received criticism too.

The statement issued by Nepal Army refuting the rumor