Goa housing societies stigmatising Covid patients, warned

Panaji, Aug 14 (IANS) Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday warned of a crackdown on housing societies and colonies discriminating against asymptomatic Covid-19 patients who have opted for home isolation.Rane said that his Ministry has been receiving complaints about various housing societies and other residential complexes stigmatising asymptomatic Covid-19 patients, including restricting supply of food to those in home isolation."You cannot stigmatise patients who are opting for home isolation, otherwise government will come down heavily and take action against these housing societies and colonies. I have received complaints that committees are not allowing access to those who are in home isolation in different societies," Rane said."Supply of food is being stopped at the gates, as a result it is creating problems for patients who are asymptomatic and under monitoring of the Indian Medical Association and Health services. These people should not be stigmatised," Rane said.The Health Minister said that Covid-19 could affect anyone."Covid does not recognise caste, status is society. Anybody can become Covid positive. There should not be any kind of stigmatisation. Home isolation decision has to be respected. No society or colony can take these decisions on its own," Rane said.
--IANS maya/ptr