Anxiety and Lack of Information Fuel Stigma Against COVID-19 Survivors

The public still tends to behave badly towards Covid-19 survivors. This behavior is suspected to stem from several factors, as seen in the results of a survey conducted by Lapor Covid-19 in collaboration with the Social Intervention Interest Group of the Faculty of Psychology, University of Indonesia.

43.1% of Covid-19 survivor respondents assessed that the public lacks information or consumes misinformation. Public anxiety also influences their treatment of survivors, as acknowledged by 42.5% of respondents.

Excessive fear of Covid-19 creates stigma against Covid-19 survivors. This condition can have a negative impact on others, as it triggers reluctance to take Covid-19 tests and conceal their health status. The government needs to take a firm stance on this phenomenon by engaging in open communication, correcting rumors, and imposing sanctions on those who discriminate.

The government continues to emphasize the importance of the 3M movement to reduce the rate of Covid-19 transmission. The public needs to get into the habit of washing their hands with soap, wearing masks, and maintaining physical distance.