No posters to be affixed outside homes of patients in Punjab

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 4

Covid patients under home isolation in the state will no longer have to suffer the fear and stigma of social isolation, resulting from posters affixed at the entrance of their homes.

In a step towards mitigating the stigma attached to the pandemic, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today rescinded his government’s earlier decision of putting posters outside the houses of Covid patients under home isolation or quarantine. Posters already affixed may be removed, he directed.

The move is aimed at minimising the stigma resulting from the affixing of such posters on the front doors of such patients’ homes, thus also negating the fear of testing, said the Chief Minister, once again appealing to the people to come out for early testing, diagnosis and treatment of Covid. The psychological trauma, which the patients were seen suffering from as a result of

these posters — meant to protect neighbours and contacts — was defeating the purpose of the exercise.

Capt Amarinder urged people to continue taking all necessary precautions and follow all guidelines for home isolation/ quarantine, notwithstanding the removal of the posters. Violation of these guidelines was a punishable offence under the Disaster Management Act, he said.

Don’t let guard down, cautions capt

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh urged people to continue taking all necessary precautions and follow all applicable guidelines for home isolation/quarantine, notwithstanding the removal of the posters.