Coronavirus: Dubai schools will NOT be closed today

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Dubai - KHDA responds to news circulating on social media.

Anjana Sankar

Published: Sat 29 Feb 2020, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Sun 1 Mar 2020, 12:52 PM

The 'tweet' making rounds on social media about Dubai schools being closed starting March 1 - is fake, the emirate's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) clarified on Saturday.
The fake news is attributed to the KHDA's verified Twitter handle but the screenshot circulating online is believed to have been Photoshopped.

Fake news! All official announcements will be made on our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook channels. We advice everyone to avoid sharing messages and screenshots without first verifying them ??
- KHDA (@KHDA) February 29, 2020

"To make sure everyone in Dubai stays safe, all schools will be closed starting from March 1. Further information will be announced throughout the week," read the fake tweet that was widely shared on many WhatsApp groups in Dubai.
The KHDA has issued a clarification and asked parents not to fall for the false news.
"All official announcements will be made on our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook channels. We advise everyone to avoid sharing messages and screenshots without first verifying them," the KHDA tweeted on Saturday evening.
The official announcement from the authority had a similar wording but said: "All internal and external gatherings at private schools and universities in Dubai have been cancelled. This includes camps, sports and trips. This is a precautionary action only. Safety is always our top priority."

Parents thought it was official
Many parents said they mistook the fake tweet as an official announcement.
"I saw the tweet shared on a WhatsApp group by some parents and it looked real. There was no reason to doubt it was fake until I checked the KHDA handle," said Aneesha Chacko, a parent of two.
Mervin, another Dubai parent, said she forwarded it to all her friends, thinking it was genuine.
"I least suspected it to be fake. Why would anyone Photoshop the KHDA Twitter handle and create a tweet to spread panic? This is a serious crime and people behind this should be arrested," said Mervin.
Saba Syed, another parent, tweeted that "so many parents have forwarded this message to each other, but this can't be found on KHDA's page. Seems like fake news is being created".
anjana@khaleejtimes.com