The government on Wednesday issued an advisory to address the social stigma associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, urging people not to label any community or area for the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The advisory comes after a spurt in coronavirus casesfollowing a Tablighi Jamaat meet at the group’s headquarters in Nizamuddinhere, and instances of people, especially on social media, blaming the Muslimcommunity for the spread of the disease.
Public health emergencies during an outbreak of communicablediseases may cause fear and anxiety leading to prejudices against people andcommunities, social isolation and stigma, said the government advisory postedon the health ministry website.
Such behaviour may culminate into increased hostility, chaosand unnecessary social disruptions, the advisory said.
The government also listed various dos and don’ts in thewake of the coronavirus outbreak.
“Do not target healthcare and sanitary workers orpolice. They are there to help you,” the government told the people amidcases of harassment and social stigmatization of healthcare and sanitationworkers.
Cases have been reported of people affected with COVID-19 aswell as healthcare workers, sanitary workers and police, who are in thefrontline for management of the outbreak, facing discrimination on account ofheightened fear and misinformation about the infection, the advisory said.
Even those who have recovered from COVID-19 face suchdiscrimination, it noted.
Healthcare workers including doctors, nurses and alliedhealthcare professionals are rendering their services tirelessly to providecare and medical and clinical support in this situation of crisis, the advisorynoted.
It said sanitary workers and police are doing selflessservice and playing critical roles in addressing the COVID-19 challenge.
They all deserve support, praise and appreciation, thegovernment said in the advisory.
Certain communities and areas are being labelled purelybased on false reports floating on social media and elsewhere, the advisorysaid.
There is an urgent need to counter such prejudices and torise as a community that is empowered with health literacy and respondsappropriately in the face of this adversity, it said.
“Do not label any community or area for spread ofCOVID-19,” the advisory said.
It asked people not to spread on social media the names,identity or the locality of those affected by the virus or under quarantine.The advisory also urged people to avoid spreading fear and panic.
Even though “COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease which spreadsfast and can infect anyone of us, we can protect ourselves through socialdistancing, washing our hands regularly and following sneezing / coughingetiquettes”, it said.
The government said that despite all precautions, if anybodycatches the infection, it is not their fault.
In a situation of distress, the patient and the family needsupport and cooperation, it said.
It must be noted that the condition is curable and mostpeople recover from it, the advisory said.
Those directly involved in the management of COVID-19 areequipped with appropriate protective equipment to keep them safe from theinfection, it highlighted.
The advisory also called on people to avoid addressing thoseunder treatment as COVID victims and instead address them as ”people recoveringfrom COVID”.