Social stigma associated with COVID 19 is a Community health emergency. There is anxiety and fear among people that leads to negative attitude.

1. MRS. SOUMYA SONALIKA
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,DEPT. OF COMMUNITY
HEALTH NURSING, KINS, KIIT UNIVERSITY
*

3. *
WHY IS
THERE
STIGMA?
WHAT IS
STIGMA?
WHAT DOES
STIGMA DO?
WHATCAN FLW
DO?

5. Viruses
donot
discriminate
—weareall at
risk.”
master’s and PhD students studying at universities outside China. The
majority are in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United
States. Many have returned home while their institutions are closed
owing to lockdowns, and many might not return. Students are
hesitating to come back, in part because of fears of continuing
racism, along with uncertainty over the future of their courses and
not know- ing when international travel will resume.
These young people will experience disruption and the loss of
new connections and opportunities. But the loss of students from
China and other countries in Asia has wide-ranging -and worrying
implications for the scholarly enterprise, too. It means that
universities in the affected countries will become less diverse —
something that has not happened for generations.
Aloss for all
For decades, campuses have striven to boost diversity, and countries
have enacted policies to encourage international academic mobility.
Diversity is valuable for its own sake. It encourages understanding and
dialogue between cultures, and sharing of points of view and ways of
being.And it has always been a fuel for research and innovation.
Moreover, a diverse campus body is needed to improve policies
and structures so that universities —and research publishing —can
become more welcoming. Many barriers to diversity remain: in the
April issue of Nature Reviews Physics, for example, researchers and
science communi- cators from China, India, Japan and South
Korea report examples of discrimination and other factors that
prevent them being heard in international journals (S. Hanasoge
et al. Nature Rev. Phys. 2,178–180;2020).
Many leaders want to listen to and act on expert scien- tific
advice to deal with this pandemic and save lives. On terminology,
the advice is clear: we must all do everything we can to avoid and
reduce stigma; not associate COVID-19 with particular groups of
people or places; and emphasize that viruses do not discriminate —
*
The pandemic is fuelling deplorable racism,
especially against Asian people. Education and
research willalso pay the price.
hentheWorldHealthOrganization (WHO)
announced in February that the disease
caused by the new coronavirus would be
called COVID-19, the name was quickly
Wadopted by organizations involved in
communicating public-health information.As wellasnam-
ing the illness, the WHO was implicitly sending a reminder to those
who had erroneously been associating the virus with Wuhan and
with China in their news coverage— includ- ing Nature. That we did so
was an error on our part, for which we take responsibility and
apologize.
For years, it was common for viral diseases to be associ- ated with
the landscapes,places or regions where the first outbreaks occurred
—as in Middle East respiratory syn- drome, or Zika virus, named
after a forest in Uganda. But in 2015,the WHO introduced guidelines
to stop this prac- tice and thereby reducestigma and negative
impacts such as fear or anger directed towards those regions or
their people. The guidelines underlined the point that viruses
infect all humans: when an outbreak happens, everyone is at risk,
regardless of who they are or where they are from. And yet, as
countries struggle to control the spread of the new coronavirus, a
minority of politicians are stick- ing with the outdated script. US
President Donald Trump has repeatedly associated the virus with
China. Brazilian lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro —the son of
President Jair Bolsonaro —has called it “China’s fault”. Politicians
else- where, including in the United Kingdom, are also saying
that China bears responsibility.
Continuing to associate a virus and the disease it causes with a
specific place is irresponsible and needs to stop. As infectious-
disease epidemiologist Adam Kucharski reminds us in his timely
book The Rules of Contagion, pub- lished in February, history tells us
that pandemics lead to communities being stigmatized, which is
why we all need to exercise more care. If in doubt, seek advice, and
always fall back on the consensus of the evidence.
Racist attacks
Failing to do so has consequences. It’s clear that since the
Chinatown in San Francisco, California, during COVID-19.
Nature| Vol580| 9 April2020 | 165
The internationaljournalofscience /9 April 2020
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6. • FALLING ILL AND DYING
• AVOIDING APPROACHING HEALTH FACILITIES DUE TO FEAR OF
BECOMING INFECTED WHILE IN CARE
• FEAR OF LOSING LIVELIHOODS, NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK DURING
ISOLATION, AND OF BEING DISMISSED FROM WORK
• FEAR OF BEING SOCIALLY EXCLUDED/PLACED IN QUARANTINE
BECAUSE OF BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISEASE
• FEELING POWERLESS IN PROTECTING LOVED ONES AND FEAR OF
LOSING LOVED ONES BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS OR BEING SEPARATED
DURING QUARANTINE
• FEELINGS OF HELPLESSNESS, BOREDOM, LONELINESS AND
DEPRESSION DUE TO BEING ISOLATED AND NOT WORKING TOWARDS
CARING FOR A DEPENDENT
• STRESS IS CAUSED DUE TO THE ABOVE FEARS AND BEING
TREATED AS AN OUTCASTE OR BLAMED FOR SPREADING THE
DISEASE
IN THIS PANDEMIC, IT IS COMMON FOR INDIVIDUALS TO
FEEL STRESSED AND WORRIED BECAUSE THEY FEAR:
*

7.  THE LEVEL OF STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 IS BASED
ON THREE MAIN FACTORS:
 COVID-19 IS A NEW DISEASE ABOUT WHICH MANY THINGS
ARE STILL BEING DISCOVERED.
 WHEN SOMETHING IS UNKNOWN PEOPLE ARE WORRIED
WHICH LEADS TO FEAR
 RUMOURS OR FAKE NEWS GIVE WRONG INFORMATION
AND SPREADS THE FEAR.
*

8. WHAT WILL YOU FEEL LIKE IF YOU
WERE BABULAL, RANI, SUKHRAM,
BEAUTY?
1. YOU ARE IN THE GROCERY SHOP. THERE ARE SEVERAL
PEOPLE WHO ARE WEARING A MASK. YOU SEE
BABULAL THE STORE OWNER GOING RED IN HIS FACE
AS HE TRIES TO SUPPRESS A COUGH.
2. SUKHRAM HAS COME BACK FROM PUNE WHERE HE
WORKS AS A TAXI DRIVER. THEY STAY IN A JOINT
FAMILY AND YOU HAVE TAKEN HIS CONTACT HISTORY
AS ADVISED BY YOUR SUPERVISOR. YOU COME TO
KNOW THAT SUKHRAM’S FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE
ASKED HIM TO LEAVE THE HOUSE
3. BEAUTY WORKS IN DELHI AS A HOUSE MAID. RECENTLY
SHE HAS COME BACK AND YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT
BEAUTY’S EMPLOYERS HAVE ASKED HER TO LEAVE AS
SHE HAD A COLD.
4. SURALI IS A YOUNG GIRL OF 11 YEARS. SHE AND HER 8
YEAR OLD BROTHER ARE STAYING WITH AN AUNT AS
THEIR PARENTS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO GO IN FOR
ISOLATION. SURALI’S AUNT KEEPS ON COMPLAINING TO
YOU THAT THE CHILDREN ARE A BIG BURDEN ON THE
FAMILY’S RESOURCES.
THE
STIGMA
*

9. *What groups have experienced
stigma related to COVID-19?
 People of Asian descent
 People returning from travel
 Health care workers and emergency
responders
 People with the disease and their family
and friends
 People released from quarantine

10. | | | | | | |
sre
3320 new COVID-19 cases and 95 death p orte
News »India
CORONAVIRUS
Centre issues advisory to address socialstigma
associated with coronavirus COVID-19
Amid the rising incidents of prejudices aand social stigma against some communities and area due to the coronavirus COVID-19
outbreak, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Wednesday (April 9) issued an advisory saying that
such prejudices and social stigma during outbreak of communicable diseases may cause fear and anxiety which could
culminate into increased hostility, chaos and unnecessary social disruptions.
Amid the rising incidents of prejudices aand social stigma against some
communities and area due to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, the Union
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Wednesday (April 9) issued
an advisory saying that such prejudices and social stigma during outbreak of
communicable diseases may cause fear and anxiety which could culminate
into increased hostility, chaos and unnecessary social disruptions.
"Cases have been reported of people affected with COVID-19 as well
Share:
Written By:
Zee Media
Bureau
Edited By:
Tanweer Azam
Updated:
Apr 09,2020, 06:42AM IST
BREAKING dia's total COVID-19 cases jump to 59,662; death toll touches 1,981
Live TV Coronavirus Latest News India Video State Photos Cricket Entertainment

11. MAKES
PEOPLE HIDE
THEIR
PROBLEMS
KEEPS PEOPLE AWAY
FROM ACCESSING
HEALTH SERVICES AND
SEEKING HELP
DISCOURAGES THEM &
MAY AT TIMES
PREVENT THEM FROM
ADOPTING HEALTHY
BEHAVIOURS
*
11

12. *What happens to groups that are stigmatized?
 They may be excluded or shunned in social situations.
 They may be denied job and educational opportunities.
 They may be denied access to adequate housing and health care.
 They may be targets of verbal, emotional and physical abuse.
*How stigma affects groups that experience it
 Stigma can make people feel isolated and even abandoned. They
may feel depressed, hurt and angry when friends and others in their
community avoid them for fear of getting COVID-19.
 Stigmatized groups may often be deprived of their health,
wellbeing and various resources they need to care for themselves
and their families during a pandemic

14. English Arabic Español Français
COVID-19: your voices against stigma and discrimination
Image Credit @witchtropolis
We cannot allow the COVID-19 to serve as a vehicle for racism or xenophobia. Help avoid discrimination and stigma around coronavirus.
Check these illustrations, sparks and stories submitted by Voices of Youth contributors around the world to spread kindness and support each other.
You can also share your messages of support, comics or poems against stigma and discrimination with the hashtag #voicesofyouth. Or
submit your content through our website. Be safe, be kind.
For more information about COVID-19, visitUNICEF.org/coronavirus.

16. *What you can do to reduce COVID-19 stigma
Education is one way to fight stigma. It helps dispel harmful stereotypes. You can help
reduce stigma by:
 Getting the facts about COVID-19 from reputable sources such as the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).
Share them with your family and friends.
 Speaking up if you hear or see inaccurate statements about COVID-19 and certain
people or groups.
 Reaching out to people who may feel stigmatized. Ask how you can help. Listen to
them and show that you understand and support them.
 Showing support for health care workers and others who are caring for people
with COVID-19. Thank them for their work and share positive messages on social
media.
 Showing support for and thanking all who continue their essential jobs to help you
and your community, such as police officers, bus drivers, grocery store clerks, food
bank workers and delivery people.
Remember, everyone is in this together. The COVID-19 pandemic will be over sooner if
fears and rumors are replaced by facts, proper action and a show of support for one
another.

18. AS A HEALTH PERSONNEL, YOU CAN:
• SENSITIZE PEOPLE AND HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A SIMPLE INFECTION AND 80% OF
THE CASES ARE MILD CASES.
• COVID-19 CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, SPEAK TO PEOPLE, BE AVAILABLE TO LISTEN TO HOW THEY FEEL
• ADVISE PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN RELAXING ACTIVITIES LIKE INDOOR GAMES, READING, GARDENING, HOME-
CLEANING, ETC.
• ASK PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY FROM WATCHING NEGATIVE THINGS ON THE TV AND ALSO FAKE NEWS
• ENGAGE COMMUNITY INFLUENCERS , SHARE CORRECT INFORMATION ON COVID-19 WITH THEM. BRIEF
THEM ON SPECIFIC SUPPORT REQUIRED BY YOU. GUIDE WHATSAPP GROUPS TO HELP IN GIVING HOPE
AND POSITIVE NEWS TO HELP PEOPLE HANDLE STRESS.
• PUBLICLY, USE TERMS LIKE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COVID-19 INSTEAD OF “COVID-19 CASES” OR “VICTIMS”.
SIMILARLY, USE TERMS LIKE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE COVID-19 INSTEAD OF “SUSPECTED CASES”
• EMPHASIZE THAT MOST PEOPLE DO RECOVER FROM COVID-19, AMPLIFY THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT LOCAL
PEOPLE . WHO HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19? WHO HAVE SUPPORTED A LOVED ONE THROUGH
RECOVERY?
• MAKE SPECIAL EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO HIGH RISK GROUPS INCLUDING SENIOR CITIZENS AND
YOUNGER CHILDREN.
*
18

20. *
Remember urban areas are densely populated with limited health
staff. You need to develop community support to keep everyone
and yourself safe.
Resident Welfare Associations
1. Many of the societies have stopped maids and other helpers from
entering. While this is correct as this will keep people at home, the way
of managing this distancing is stigmatizing
2. Words like “They will bring this disease to us” “The disease will
spread
because of them” etc are stigmatizing
3. Work with the local influencers and key decisionmakers of the area to
sensitise people
4. Use the mass media clips to sensitise
5. Use government orders to show why housing societies should not
discriminate against the working class like car cleaners, maids etc.
20

23. *