GOVT ROLLS BACK ORDER TO AFFIX POSTERS OUTSIDE ISOLATED PATIENTS’ HOMES

CHANDIGARH: Covid patients in home isolation in Punjab will no longer have to suffer the fear and stigma of social isolation resulting from posters affixed at the entrance of their homes.

In a major step towards mitigating the stigma attached to the pandemic, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday rescinded his government’s earlier decision of putting posters outside the houses of Covid patients under home isolation or quarantine. Posters where already affixed may be removed, he directed.

The move is aimed at minimising the stigma resulting from the affixing of such posters at the doors of such patients, thus also negating the fear of testing, the chief minister, appealing to people to come out for early testing, diagnosis and treatment of Covid.

The psychological trauma which patients were seen suffering as a result of these posters, which were meant to protect neighbours and others of such patients, was defeating the purpose, he said, adding that these posters were actually found scaring people away from testing.

The undesirable and unintended consequences of these posters included social isolation and stigma, leading to anxiety and prejudices against the patients. People would refrain from getting tested to avoid this stigma instead of extending support and community to the patients and their families, which had prompted a rethink on the decision of affixing posters, Captain said.

Continue taking precautions, says CM

The chief minister urged people to continue taking necessary precautions and follow all applicable guidelines for home isolation/quarantine notwithstanding the removal of the posters. Violation of these guidelines is a punishable offence under Disaster Management Act, Epidemic Diseases Act and IPC, he said.