The COVID-19 pandemic has social, psychological, mental health consequences and manifestations that require adequate attention from governments and policymakers. As pointed out by Hurley and Agrest (2020) in a recent publication of the International Journal of Mental Health, learning from the Argentinian experience, it is important to recognize stigma and discrimination as an important component affecting the mental health and wellbeing of the population. Hurley and Agrest argue that a process of deinstitutionalization can also take place as collectives and clusters of people may be considered as incubators for the spread of the virus. Thus, they argue and advocate for a strong community mental health program and highlight the need for more funding and resources to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic (Hurley & Agrest, 2020).

Here, we would like to emphasize the importance of stigmatization and discrimination issues in the context of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertainties and the uncontrolled spread of the virus have led to anxiety, fear, stigma, and discrimination. It is common during pandemics where people blame others to soothe their fear in the absence of unknown dimensions associated with the pandemic (Compass, 2020; McCauley et al., 2013). It is speculated that COVID-19 may lead to heightened fear and anxiety leading to prejudice, social isolation, and stigma (WHO, 2020). Public writings have also fueled the stigmatizing process with statements such as—“treat every individual you meet as an asymptomatic COVID carrier. Treat every surface you touch as potentially contaminated”, “COVID is not going to magically disappear. About 70% of us will have to get infected for the community to acquire herd immunity” (Satwik, 2020).

We missed to learn the lessons from previous pandemics which showed that stigma and fear impact containment, spread and control, apart from their impacts on human suffering which delay detection and treatment efforts, cooperation with contact tracing and isolation measures; and the effective distribution of resources for the prevention and control of infectious diseases (Fischer et al., 2019).

Uncertainties, myths, and misconceptions related to routes of transmission strengthen stigma, preventing people from seeking tests and care until it is too late (Mehra, 2020). People are scared and not coming forward for testing due to social stigma, social isolation, and fear that they will be blamed, isolated, and taken away from their family members (Kumar & Nayar, 2020). Due to this fear and stigma attached, people are avoiding tests and continue to infect others. Cases have been reported where COVID positive people and healthcare workers, sanitary workers, police, and those who have recovered are facing stigma and discrimination due to heightened fear and misinformation. Even specific community and religious groups have been targeted and labeled for spreading the pandemic like in the case of Tablighi Jamaat where 30 percent of COVID-19 cases were linked to a religious congregation in Delhi (Sharma, 2020). Stigma is being created by ostracizing migrants and specific communities perceived to be a threat and responsible for the spread of the disease (Slater & Masih, 2020). Even countries are not behind in blaming each other for the spread of the pandemic. The British blamed the Chinese government (Karyotis, 2020), Nepal blamed India (Nayak, 2020), and the Chinese officials blamed the United States army (Winter, 2020). China became an easy target due to two reasons; firstly, the outbreak first emerged in the Wuhan province, and secondly, China was the first country to take drastic social distancing measures and go through an epidemic peak, which produced feelings of fear and uncertainty in the rest of the world (Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, 2020).

Blaming and shaming poses a threat to people or community which isolate, exclude, or shun people, denying jobs, access to adequate housing and healthcare leading to depression, hurt, and anger (Ali, 2020). It is pertinent that community leaders, public mental health officials, and community volunteers be involved in educating people to prevent and dispel harmful stereotypes in the fight against stigma and discrimination. They can correct negative language that can cause stigma by sharing accurate information about the pandemic and how the virus spreads using different platforms and social media, apart from providing virtual resources for mental health or other social support services for people who have experienced stigma or discrimination. Reaching out and showing support to people who may feel stigmatized is the immediate need that can be addressed by providing facts and correct information.

The present pandemic highlights the need to disseminate right and timely information to build trust and generate faith in control measures and on health systems to promote a positive social and psychological environment. Stigma will not help modern societies to survive such pandemics as it may hamper easy to follow preventive strategies not only during the pandemic but during the post-pandemic period as well.