According to reports, the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is spreading rapidly in China, with reports (here, and here) of several people being affected. As of 9 January 2024, eight cases of HMPV have been reported in India. Amidst this, a video going viral on social media (here, here, and here) claims to show Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing a 21-day lockdown in the country starting from midnight after the detection of HMPV cases. Let’s verify the truth behind the video in this article.
Claim: A video shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing a 21-day lockdown in the country after the detection of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases.
Fact: The viral video dates back to 24 March 2020, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown starting at midnight in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 7 January 2025, the Government of India released a press note where Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava stated there is no cause for concern regarding HMPV. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
To verify the claim, we conducted an internet search using relevant keywords. However, we did not find any credible reports confirming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has imposed a lockdown in India due to the rise in HMPV cases. An announcement of such significance would have garnered extensive media coverage but no such reports were found. No official announcement was also found on any of the government websites or social media handles.
We then conducted a reverse image search of the keyframes from the viral video which led us to a Hindustan Times report (archived) dated 24 March 2020, featuring the same visuals titled: “Type of curfew: PM Modi declares 21-day lockdown over COVID-19 l Full speech”. According to the report, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown starting from midnight on 24 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This confirms that the viral video is from March 2020, when a 21-day lockdown was announced to combat the spread of COVID-19.
An update is also available on the PM India website, dated 24 March 2020.
Additionally, we found a post (archived) on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of PIB Fact Check, dated 09 January 2025, debunking the claims that the Indian government has imposed a lockdown due to a rise in HMPV cases as ‘fake.’ It stated that the Indian government has not made any such announcement.
What is HMPV ?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the HMPV virus has been around for 23 years and was first discovered in 2001. It belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, along with RSV, and is a type of virus that causes respiratory infections. HMPV can quickly affect children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Its symptoms are typically flu-like, but in severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia and bronchitis.
HMPV Symptoms
1. Persistent fever
2. Cough, sore throat
3. Difficulty breathing
4. Fatigue, weakness, etc.
HMPV Treatment: Currently, there is no specific antiviral therapy to treat HMPV and no vaccine/immunization to prevent HMPV.
There is no need to worry about Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV),” said Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Atul Goyal. He explained that it causes the common cold, mainly in young children and the elderly. Dr. Goyal emphasized that there is no unusual situation regarding the spread of HMPV in India, as respiratory viral infections are common during winter. He urged the public to take general precautions to prevent respiratory infections, such as staying away from others if suffering from a cough or cold, using a separate handkerchief or towel when coughing or sneezing, and taking general medications for cold or fever symptoms. There are no credible reports of a significant number of deaths due to this virus in China.
Additionally, on 7 January 2025, the Government of India released a press note in which Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava emphasized that there was no cause for concern regarding HMPV. The virus, which has been present globally since 2001 is typically mild and self-limiting. Most cases recover on their own, and there is no significant risk to the public.
To sum up, an old March 2020 video of PM Modi announcing a 21-day lockdown in response to COVID-19 is falsely shared as if he announced a lockdown concerning HMPV cases in 2025.
Update (10 January 2025): This article had been updated to include the clarification from the official X handle of PIB Fact Check.
