"COVID-19 means that it has 19 points that can be applied in any country in any way," said during a current affairs show on National TV Channel.
Actually, COVID-19 means 'Coronavirus disease 2019'. The 'CO' in the word stands for corona, 'VI' for virus and 'D' for the disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as ‘2019 novel coronavirus’ or ‘2019-nCoV.’
Gul's novel definition of the virus stirred a storm on social media, with Twitter users posting her video clip defining the disease and taking shots at the minister for not knowing enough about it.
One of the users wrote, “Can’t wait for Zartaj Gul to enlighten us, commoners, with her valuable piece of information on the solar eclipse!”
Another Twitter user said, “COVID-19 has 19 points applicable to countries based on their immunity level, reveals Federal Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul”
“After listening to Zartaj Gul, WHO (World Health Organization) decided to make her head of the organization,” a Twitter user said.
Later, the minister took to Twitter, a few hours after her video clip started trending on social media, to issue a clarification.
"Every day I appear on national TV and speak without a piece of paper (parchi)," Zartaj tweeted. "Wanted to say that the infections effect and intensity vary across different countries. Instead of crying on the situation over a minor mistake, maybe that will be better for them. I am not afraid of criticism, it strengthens me," she further added.
-MN Report