Coronavirus rumours hamper testing in India

Wild rumours about coronavirus are fuelling opposition to testing in the northern Indian state of Punjab.

“Human organs are being smuggled,” Sonia Kaur, who lives in a village in Punjab’s Sangrur district, said.

“Not just the villagers but the whole world is scared of this. Social media is full of such news.”

Ms Kaur says she has heard of people’s organs being harvested under the guise of diagnosing and treating coronavirus.

She is echoing the fears of countless others in rural Punjab who are sceptical of the virus.

Rumours are flying fast in Punjab that the virus is a hoax, that people who don’t have Covid-19 are being taken away to care centres, where they are being killed for their organs, and that bodies are being swapped to allay suspicion.