Fake “coronavirus in Montana” article causes concern

GREAT FALLS — KRTV received the following message on Sunday afternoon: “Is there any way KRTV could analyze this news article and determine if it’s factual at all? This post is going around recently, and I can’t find any other news article to back it up. ”

The message included a link to an online article with the headline “BREAKING NEWS: Eight test positive for coronavirus in Billings,” which states:

  • “Seven Americans and one Chinese have tested positive for coronavirus in Billings, Montana, authorities have said in a statement. According to the statement, seven people became ill after coming into contact with a Chinese colleague who was visiting from Shanghai and had recently been in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. Authorities say the Chinese is still not showing symptoms of the virus despite testing positive and that is why border control did not notice.”

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