Social stigma associated with COVID-19

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Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, people can sometimes be labelled, stereotyped, discriminated against, treated separately, or experience loss of status because of real or perceived links with the disease. As a result of such treatment, those who have or are perceived to have the disease, as well as their caregivers, family, friends, and communities, may be subjected to social stigma.^[1]

Due to the social stigma, individuals and groups have been subjected to racism, xenophobia, and hate crimes, including physical attacks.^[1] The groups shown to be most vulnerable to this social stigma are Asian people, in particular those of East Asian and Southeast Asian descent or appearance, people who have traveled abroad, people who have recently completed quarantine, healthcare professionals, and emergency service workers.^[2]

It has also been shown that wearing or refusing to wear a mask has become subject to stigma.^[1] The existence of such social stigma and their negative impacts have been documented by many organizations, including UNICEF, the WHO, and the CDC.^[3][4][5][6]