HEC rejects the Fake news circulating on social media that it has announced the closure of universities in the light of reemerging COVID cases.
In the beginning, when COVID started spreading worldwide, countries started going into lockdown mode. And in lockdowns, businesses and educationals institutes alike closed or shifted online. For months, the situation remained like this. While people learned to accept that this was the new normal, they also experienced many obstacles of the lockdown. And hence, before the lockdown lifted, they were looking forward to the country reopening.
New Normal
And the new normal was finally here. The country started reopening, albeit a little differently. There were SOPs to follow and guidelines to maintain. But at least the situation looked a little brighter. COVID was still here, but most people were responsible. And so we saw educational institutes shifting back to their original model of education, the brick, and mortar model. But the new normal was not going to last.
First of all, most people were sure to be responsible, but others were not. Even after so many deaths, they refused to believe that COVID was a reality.
Secondly, as researchers have found out, there would be another, more dangerous wave of COVID once again.
Finally, although the hot temperature does not kill off the virus, in colder climates, the virus thrives. And so the upcoming winter was going to pose a threat.
HEC Fake News
As expected, the COVID cases started resurging. And lesser expected, they could infect the recovered COVID patients as well, this time fiercer. So within 24 hours, when Pakistan saw 707 cases being reported, they assumed that the country would go into lockdown mode once again.
In trying to be one step forward, the public started circulating fake news on social media about HEC. They said that HEC had announced the closure of universities and so everyone should stay home. Now the fake news may have started because some of those people wanted authorities to take action in light of COVID once again, or it began as a prank. But the fake news got intense, and HEC had to diffuse the rumor themselves.
HEC Responds
HEC stated that:
“There is no direction from HEC for the closure of universities. Each institute will decide to operate or close as per its specific situation.”
Attention Students!!
HEC has not issued direction for closure of universities pic.twitter.com/LI2dhQl81E
— HEC Pakistan (@hecpkofficial) October 26, 2020
So while it may come as sad news for those looking forward to some time off, tough luck, follow SOPs for COVID or not, one has to study.
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