Handle with care

The disease is fatal enough but the coronavirus related stigma fallouts could prove deadlier. Apart from circulating false news targeting Muslim, including video clips purportedly showing congregation members spitting on authorities in India, there have been multiple reports of individuals being subject to verbal and even physical abuse after being unfairly associated with the spread of the virus (“Islamophobia affects India’s coronavirus fight,” April 25, Gulf Today).

While governments all over the world are struggling to deal with the crisis, it is critical that we prevent, if not completely curtail, such stigma related incidents. If not we will only be making the otherwise challenging situation worse.

Now that the Indian government is making arrangements to repatriate stranded migrant workers back to their villages, we may see a rise in coronavirus stigma-related incidents around the country. The police machinery and government authorities should be extra vigilant in stemming the rot before it gets out of hand.

The lockdown will not continue indefinitely, and so the state governments need to prepare for the influx now.

Public health emergencies are stressful times for everyone affected, and so the added burden of being ostracised could lead to fatal consequences. Hope police and health officials handle the situation with prudence and care.

Shaufiq Ali — Sharjah