Coronavirus: Why do some people hide their COVID-19 diagnosis?

As cases continue to surge, it has become increasingly common to hear of COVID-19 cases around us. However, there's still a certain stigma attached to the infection which makes people fear the consequence. Just hearing the word 'COVID positive' can make one worry. The stigma is so high that some people are actually 'hiding' their diagnosis- deny they may be ill, continue to live life they were or the worst, expose others around the risk.

For a disease as contagious as COVID-19, contact tracing is a must. Hiding or denying a diagnosis not only deters contact tracing but also further impacts the psychological consequences of the infectious disease. COVID, like any infection, requires a lot of positivity and support to recover from and when you contribute to the stigma, it could impair you mentally, in the long run.

However, it's not just the shame that is making people fear getting a positive diagnosis. Psychologically speaking, there can be many reasons why people can be afraid of doing so, which experts have observed globally.

Receiving a COVID-positive diagnosis can give you a better picture of your health. However, it can also leave looming questions in the mind of the patients. "Was I not too careful?", "Was I not taking proper precautions" can be certain examples of what a COVID positive patient can go through. Since its infectious, the thought that your diagnosis also puts your loved ones in danger is also emotionally draining. The added stress triggers can not just impact your diagnosis and other's health, it can also slow down recovery further.

One of the biggest problems with a COVID diagnosis is the unwanted stigma, judgement and shame they experience from the ones around them. In the lack of proper awareness, presenting oneself as a potential threat to society can make people hide the diagnosis. Unnecessary public scrutiny and judgment can make someone feel guilty of being diagnosed with COVID-19, despite following all necessary guidelines.

While this isn't the first time stigma has been associated with an infectious disease outbreak, what we should know is that implications of shame and judgement can have detrimental consequences with a disease like COVID-19, which separates an individual from the society. Furthermore, the existence of stigma has also led some to take extreme steps, or take their own life.

There's another reason why some may choose to hide their COVID-diagnosis, especially if they suffer from mild or atypical symptoms. COVID, as a disease requires days of isolation and quarantine- which can be financially draining for some and require normal life to hit a pause. Mental stress and moral dilemmas can also prevent people from making their diagnosis public and prevent further damage.

Nine months on, there's still not a lot of clarity available with the disease. As experts debunk the origins and how it spreads, there's also a lot of misinformation about the infection-how it spreads, affects or puts you at the risk. The rampant spread of fake news has, unfortunately, forced many people, especially those who receive a COVID diagnosis to take extreme steps. Hearing or reading about false narratives can also tempt people to "hide" their diagnosis and pretend to lead lives in a normal manner, putting other lives at risk.

Remember, we are in the middle of wide-scale pandemic and for credible advice, it's important to follow guidelines, listen to the doctors instead of blindly laying faith in what you receive as a Whatsapp forward. Right education and awareness are the two keys to fighting the pandemic on the social level.

What we must remember is that the virus fears no one. No matter how many safety measures you follow, stay indoors, disinfect everything or practice social distancing, there's still a grave danger that we will be impacted by the infection. There are one too many risk factors which can expose you to danger and judgement will always follow.

Hence, during such troubling times, the only focus should remain on improving your health, and protecting the ones around you. Even after receiving a diagnosis, one must know that recovery is not extremely difficult if you are a healthy individual. Awareness drives and messages, on the community level, can also help negate the panic and fear.

Again, while there is a big negative stigma attached to the disease, we must also focus on the positive sides. From stories of hope, positivity and recovery, to the countless celebs who have opened up about their survival stories, getting a COVID test report shouldn't scare you so much. COVID-19 doesn't mean the end of your life.

As we might continue to live with the virus in the foreseeable future, the more we see and hear about the virus and the outbreak, the less misinformed and scared we would be.

No matter what your initial reaction to the report be, the next step should always be safeguarding yourself and protecting the health of those you might have come in contact with. That's the only way to beat the stigma and eradicate the disease.