New Delhi: Stigmatization of COVID-19 is far more dangerous than the disease, said All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Director Dr Randeep Guleria on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference, Dr Randeep Guleria, who is part of the Centre’s core group of experts, said that the COVID-19 is not so serious, but it has been stigmatized.
Stigmatization of coronavirus patients is discouraging people from coming forward for testing at an early stage and a delay in treatment may lead to higher mortality, he said.
While 90-95 per cent patients of COVID-19 recover, the mortality rate from the disease is rising due to the stigma attached to the disease, he added.
Because of the stigma that is happening many patients who have Covid-19 or flu-like symptoms are not coming to health care facilities, the AIIMS director stated.
“If we have that stigma and we don’t come forward we may land up in a situation where because of our delay in treatment we have higher mortality,” he said.
He further said that patients are currently facing a lot of challenges and stigma which is not justified.
Majority of the patients who have recovered from COVID-19 are “symbols of hope and victory”, he added.
The early diagnosis is the key to fight the deadly virus, he stressed.