EYESHENZHEN  /   Opinion

Don't stigmatize COVID patients

Writer: Wu Guangqiang  |  Editor: Liu Minxia  |  From: Shenzhen Daily  |  Updated: 2022-07-11

The COVID-19 pandemic has been plaguing human society for nearly three years, infecting over 550 million people and claiming over 6 million lives. Even in China, the world’s best performer in fighting against the woe, fitful outbreaks and transmissions have never been completely curbed, though thus far manageable.

The pandemic has inflicted tremendous suffering on everyone, those who have unfortunately been infected with the virus in particular. Physical pain tortures patients. Mental frustration torments millions of people who suffer economic loss or lose jobs as a result of complete or partial lockdowns.

A heart-wrenching story came to light recently in the media and caused public outrage. In the spring of this year, 28-year-old Chen Feng went to Shanghai along with tens of thousands of other workers from other parts of the country to help construct makeshift hospitals and care for patients.

Chen worked in one of the makeshift hospitals as a volunteer, helping distribute supplies, collecting waste and maintaining public hygiene. On April 20, he was infected with the virus.

Like most other infected people, he was soon cured and tested negative. After leaving the hospital, he expected a new life as a healthy person. But he has been experiencing unfair treatment since he left the hospital in early June and began hunting for a new job.

He has visited dozens of employers, but all of them requested a two-month negative nucleic test proof. Without such a certificate, he could not find a job.

Jobless and homeless, Chen, who went to Shanghai to help combat the pandemic, ended up sleeping under a flyover at night and wandering through the city hoping to find a job, thus far in vain.

Chen is not alone. After he posted his plight online, many people shared similar stories.

Working in a makeshift hospital is regarded as a proud experience for most people, but it has become a stigma for those who have devoted themselves to the lofty cause of fighting against the pandemic.

The Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases stipulates that no company or individual can discriminate against patients of infectious diseases, pathogen carriers or suspected patients of infectious diseases.

It’s against law to discriminate against patients of infectious diseases, let alone against those who have recovered from the infection.

Such illegal practices must be stopped and punished immediately. Local authorities must act quickly to investigate and uphold rights and interests of the victims of discrimination cases.

Stigmatizing patients of infectious diseases has long existed, which traumatizes the innocent patients.

Leprosy, a kind of disease affecting the skin and nerves and deforming the victim, used to be very common both in China and overseas, but now it is basically eradicated. Because of serious consequences of the disease such as facial deformation and sores on limbs, lepers were treated as monsters or criminals. They were moved to remote areas and lived in isolation for the rest of their lives.

In fact, leprosy is preventable and curable, and most people are immune to the disease. Fear of the disease and discrimination of the patients are based on ignorance and prejudice.

The best way to eliminate discrimination is to educate the public about infectious diseases and provide compensation for victims of discrimination.

(The author is an English tutor and freelance writer.)