Doctors warn against stigma being attached to COVID-19

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): With the number of COVID-19 cases continuously increasing in the country, there have been several incidents of name and shame, discrimination, verbal abuse and hostility with patients' families, doctors, and health workers, highlighting the stigma attached to COVID-19.

Several doctors have warned against any attempt to attach any kind of stigma to corona patients, which will have serious social repercussions. They also spoke about the impact of home quarantine on COVID-19 patients.

Analysing the stigma attached to COVID-19, Dr Om Prakash, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, Delhi, said: "Sad part of this entire pandemic is stigmatisation. Stigma earlier was attached to tuberculosis, leprosy and mental illness."

"It is absolutely unacceptable to attach any kind of stigma to corona patients. We are living in the 21st century. We have journeyed a lot. The government needs to take more steps to check the rot if taking place in any form. The media should be more sensible."

Currently, India is in the third phase of lockdown with 62,939 confirmed COVID-19 cases. It has been noticed recently that India is seeing a surge of asymptomatic cases.