Lebanon’s only casino is pushing back against apparently malicious rumors that one of its customers tested positive for the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, Casino du Liban, located about 22km north of Beirut in Maameltein, issued a statement denying online rumors that local television news channel Al Mayadeen had reported a coronavirus case at the casino. The channel confirmed that none of its websites had reported any such case.

Local media reported that the rumor started from a lone individual who used a social media platform to declare that “a new Corona case has been registered at the Casino du Liban and the Lebanese Red Cross is working on transmitting the critical condition to Rafic el Hariri’s hospital.”

Casino du Liban responded with a statement saying the individual was “spreading malicious rumors by broadcasting false news impersonating Al Mayadeen.” The statement said this action was “neither patriotic nor moral, and seeks to exploit the coronavirus to harm businesses.”