Many unfounded rumors have emerged online since the second wave of Covid-19 wreaked havoc in India. Many media outlets citing a CSIR study are now circulating on social media sites, suggesting that vegetarians and smokers are less susceptible to Covid-19.
Despite the fact that coronavirus is a respiratory disease, the survey found that smoking can be helpful because it increases mucous content. It was also suggested that high-fiber vegetarian foods could help provide protection against Covid.
After CSIR India News reported that smokers and vegetarians are less likely to develop corona, the Indian government responded with a tweet. It was also mentioned that this is completely false information. According to the tweet, there is currently no conclusive evidence based on serological research that people who consume vegetarian food and smoke have a reduced chance of infection.
Press Information Bureau while quoting CSIR clarified that presently, no conclusion can be drawn based on the serological studies that vegetarian diet and smoking may protect from Covid. The CSIR said it has not issued any press note regarding this claim.
In a tweet, PIB wrote, “Media reports claim that CSIR survey reveals smokers & vegetarians are less vulnerable to COVID19 PIBFactCheck: Presently, NO conclusion can be drawn based on the serological studies that vegetarian diet & smoking may protect from COVID19.”
“The negative association with smoking has been reported elsewhere, but not shown to be causal. Further exploration is necessary before reaching any conclusions, especially since seropositivity is an imperfect marker of infection-risk and may equally well be explained by altered antibody response and dynamics,” CSIR clarified.
The Press Information Bureau launched this fact-checking arm in December 2019, to curb misinformation and fake news prevalent on the internet. It claimed that its objective was “to identify misinformation related to government’s policies and schemes that are circulating on various social media platforms”. The government has time and again warned people about such misinformation and asked them to only believe trusted sources.
