No time for hysteria
The coronavirus outbreak must be fought with science, cooperation and resolve. There is no place for fear or hysteria in this battle. Unfortunately, worrying signs have emerged. In some cases, Covid-19 patients or people suspected of contracting the disease and their relatives have been stigmatised. There is also a tendency for people to go on a witch hunt whenever there is news or speculation about others failing to observe self-quarantine or be truthful with doctors.
Late last month, a hundred or so members of a community in Bang Bon district of the capital rallied to pressure a medical facility to remove a Covid-19 patient from their area.
Although medical personnel tried to convince the protesters that the patient would be treated in a safe manner, they would not listen. Eventually, the patient had to be relocated.
More recently, a group of people in Prawet district tried to drive officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration out after they were seen bringing people into a homeless shelter.
The protesters told the officials to take the people away as they were afraid they might be Covid19 sufferers.
Eventually, the district chief and police had to come in and clear up the matter by explaining that the people placed in the shelter are homeless, and the government had taken them off of the streets to keep them from catching the disease.
There are also stories of people who have been treated but found it hard to re-assimilate in their communities due to discrimination.
Even worse was the reaction to news about 158 returnees temporarily stranded at Suvarnabhumi airport last week due to confusion about the compulsory 14-day quarantine.
Following the incident, the returnees were allowed to go home to shelter in place. But the rumour mill drove the narrative that they had refused to follow the rules and stirred up a commotion to escape.
Before long, their names and personal information were widely circulated in a clear breach of privacy. Many people went into full on witch-hunt mode — naming and shaming these returnees as selfish and irresponsible — as they were called back to report to the government.
Some of their relatives later revealed that they had received abusive calls and were subject to harassment after their identities were exposed.
It is commendable that the government, through the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, acted quickly in telling people to stop sharing these people’s personal information. The overzealous reactions also calmed down after all of the returnees reported back to the government as ordered.
Prof Dr Yong Poovorawan of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine correctly noted that the road is still a long one in our fight against the coronavirus, but if we each play our part, there is reason to be hopeful.
The outbreak may require self-isolating but it’s only through communal spirit that we will be able to persevere.
The government bears a huge responsibility in taking care of the sick, the unemployed, the underprivileged and those most vulnerable to the disease. The public health ministry and medical personnel are also tasked with giving correct information and not painting a deadly picture that will stir up panic and discrimination.
Each and every one of us must learn to cope using good sense, grit and humanity.