'No Community Or Area Should Be Labelled For Covid-19 Spread': Health Ministry Calls For Eradicating Stigma

In its daily press briefing on Monday, the Ministry of Health laid emphasis on not stigmatizing any group, area or individuals for the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

Image Courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: In its daily press briefing on Monday, the Ministry of Health laid emphasis on not stigmatizing any group, area or individuals for the spread of Coronavirus in the country. Speaking to the media, Joint Secretary Lav Aggarwal said, "Stigma should be addressed through an intensive campaign. We've to understand that there is no risk of transmission from recovered patients. They, in fact, can be a potential source of healing for antibodies using plasma therapy."

Stigma should be addressed through an intensive campaign. We've to understand that there is no risk of transmission from recovered patients. They, in fact, can be a potential source of healing for antibodies using plasma therapy: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health pic.twitter.com/1LnhJaLrsq

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2020

Recently, several reports of doctors, other healthcare workers and police personnels being ill-treated surfaced. The Ministry has asked for them to be given the respect they deserve for being the frontline warriors in the fight against Covid-19. "We should avoid spreading misinformation and panic. No community or area should be labeled for Covid-19 spread. In particular, healthcare and sanitary workers or police should not be targeted as they are there to help you." - Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health.

We should avoid spreading misinformation and panic. No community or area should be labelled for #COVID19 spread. In particular, healthcare and sanitary workers or police should not be targeted as they are there to help you: Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health https://t.co/frZhqSs33Y

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2020

Addressing concerns regarding Coronavirus test kits, the Joint Secretary assured that India has sufficient test kits and that they are adequately distributed in all regions. "At the level of ICMR we have sufficient amount of kits as far as RT PCR test is concerned. Not only sufficient amount of kits are available but we have also parallelly ensured geographical adequacy." According to the latest data shared by the Health Ministry, 1396 new positive cases have been reported in the last 24 hrs, taking the total confirmed cases to 27,892. 20,835 people are under active medical supervision. 381 patients are found cured in the past 1 day. The total no. of recovered people is 6184. The recovery rate at this point is 22.17%. A positive development till now is that 85 districts have not reported any new cases in the last 14 days. This success is being attributed to a proper implementation of lockdown measures and social distancing. (With Agency Inputs) Watch: Avoid spreading misinformation and panic: Health Ministry.