CBS News has admitted using footage from a hospital in Italy that shows a hospital ward overflowing with patients during the coronavirus pandemic.
The news comes after New York residents uploaded video to social media that shows hospitals in New York City are not “war zones” overwhelmed with coronavirus patients as the news media reported.
CBS’ This Morning used footage of a packed hospital ward in Italy last Wednesday after claiming the coronavirus epicenter was “found right here” in New York.
The same footage was aired by Sky News — which correctly identified it as a hospital in Italy.
The American news media has been criticized for overhyping the coronavirus to panic viewers and cause chaos to increase TV ratings.
“This is unacceptable,” wrote one outraged Twitter user. Another user tweeted: “it’s completely irresponsible for @CBSNews to use footage from an Italian Hospital when talking about the outbreak in New York City.”
A CBS News spokesperson attribute the fake news to an “editing mistake.”
“We took immediate steps to remove it from all platforms and shows.”
This is the “war zone” outside the hospital in my Brooklyn neighborhood. https://t.co/66FZ9VO3Jj
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) March 28, 2020
Hospital in Washington, DC yesterday. pic.twitter.com/hcXSmp6gg9
— Ralph Miller (@RmillerRalph) March 28, 2020
We did the same thing!! Drove to our local hospital to see for ourselves, rather than just believe the media. Exact same observation, empty parking lot and no activity.
— Trish (@tenangel23) March 28, 2020
Good Samaritan in Puyallup WA. Empty tents in a parking garage. No testing centers either. pic.twitter.com/JDYcPzPfro
— Marlow (@Capt_BOOM) March 29, 2020
