Covid-19: India’s frontline heroes come under attack as rumours, fake news spread on WhatsApp

Indian doctors wait in an area set aside for possible Covid-19 patients at a free screening camp at a government run homeopathic hospital in New Delhi, India. Health workers are facing the brunt of the frightened population in an environment where misinformation and rumours are thriving. — AP

NEW DELHI: They have been hailed as India's coronavirus "heroes", but doctors, nurses, delivery drivers and other frontline workers have been attacked and in some cases evicted from their homes by panicked residents.

Some e-commerce giants have even halted deliveries partly due to the harassment of staff, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi said abuse of hospital workers had become a "huge issue".