THE coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic should not serve as a vehicle for people to discriminate others based on profession, economic bracket or residential address.
Among the first to be discriminated against are medical professionals who are at the front lines of the battle against the disease. There have been instances where these health frontliners were harassed and attacked. This led local government units to come up with individual legislation making it illegal to victimize them, and ensuring their protection by granting them free accommodation and transportation.
With the coronavirus infections growing exponentially in Sitio Zapatera, Barangay Luz in Cebu City, some residents felt they were being singled out and accused of being irresponsible. SunStar Cebu reported that some sitio residents cried foul over accusations that they were “hard-headed” for not following stay-at-home orders and for being responsible for the fast spread of the virus.
As of Saturday, April 18, 2020, Cebu City has 163 Covid-19 patients with 136 of them in Sitio Zapatera. The rest are spread in 15 other barangays. The entire Barangay Luz has been on lockdown since Friday, April 17.
The report quoted Reino Ventura, a resident of Sitio Zapatera, as saying the main reasons the virus spread fast are the poor housing planning of the area, some residents’ lack of awareness, and the limited supply of water in the sitio. He then lamented that people are “quick to judge, without even knowing what is really happening inside the sitio.” He also said sitio residents are taking their own actions such as monitoring neighbors and coming up with a private chat group to post pictures of violators to force them to follow quarantine rules.
The discrimination against sitio residents also led Cebu City Alvin Dizon to react and appeal for compassion. As Dizon said, “The people of Sitio Zapatera are victims of this global health crisis. They do not wish to get this deadly virus but because of their vulnerabilities, they are highly exposed to the risk. They do not deserve our castigation but our humanity, help and compassion.”
One consequence of the discrimination against Covid-19 patients is that others who may have been infected by the virus would rather escape the place or hide their health status. There have been reports on social media of residents moving out and evading quarantine officers. The withholding of information about the patient’s condition has not only placed health frontliners at risk but has killed a number of them.
The stigma against patients could encourage others to withhold information and compromise efforts to isolate and treat patients and stop the spread of the new coronavirus.
The discrimination is based on the fear of the virus spreading and you or loved ones getting infected. The fear has basis but it should not make people blind to the pain of others. This pandemic should bring out the best in people.
(ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)