Surge not linked to 5G, clarify telecos

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 16

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has urged the Haryana Government to curb misinformation being spread regarding 5G testing being responsible for the spread of the Covid pandemic.

In a letter to Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan, the telecom operators have said some miscreants were spreading rumours that deaths and health problems faced by people due to Covid were caused by 5G testing.

These rumours are spreading at a time when 5G testing has not even started in the country and the government has only given permission in this regard, the COAI said in a statement here.

The letter stated the rumours had been spreading for the past two weeks, mainly in semi-urban and rural areas.

Recently, BKU chief Gurnam Singh Charuni had hinted that the Covid spread might be due to 5G testing.

The letter further states, “We would like to state that such misinformation and rumours are baseless. There is no evidence or facts to suggest that there is any harmful effect of the 5G services with respect to Covid.”

The COAI has requested the Chief Secretary to instruct District Magistrates, district authorities and police to safeguard telecom infrastructure and related assets and take tough action against miscreants spreading rumours.