New Delhi, March 23 : Everyone loves a good conspiracy theory, even if it is about coronavirus spread.
According to the IANS C-VOTER Gallup International Association Corona Tracker 1, an exclusive first global poll on Covid-19, 45 per cent Indians believe that a foreign power/other force is deliberately causing the spread of coronavirus.
Though 33 per cent Indians rubbished the theory, the fact that 45 per cent believe in the conspiracy theory says something.
Meanwhile, 44.5 per cent said "a foreign power/other force is deliberately causing the spread of coronavirus." When asked who they think are behind it, 75.1 per cent blamed China.
Indians aren't alone who believe in the conspiracy theory. Globally, 36 per cent said that they believe a foreign power/other force is deliberately causing the spread of coronavirus.
Among other countries, 18 per cent in Germany, 21 per cent in the US, 20 per cent in Italy, 23 per cent in Pakistan and 29 per cent in France find logic in that theory.
In countries like Ecuador, the number of believers in the conspiracy theory is 52 per cent.
The survey was conducted in 22 countries around the world.
In each country, a representative sample of men and women was interviewed over the last two weeks either face to face, via telephone or online.
The margin of error for the survey is between 3 and 5 per cent at 95 per cent confidence level.
More than 20,000 interviews were conducted globally for this survey.
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India rose to 424 on Monday, as per the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Eight people have succumbed to the virus till now.
--IANS
abn/arm.
Source: IANS
