Rumours spread faster than Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu, recovered patient says

VILLUPURAM: The recovery of a family of six, including a 79-year-old diabetic with complaints of asthma and high blood pressure, at Tindivanam in Villupuram district in 14 days has boosted the morale of patients and healthcare workers alike in the battle against Covid-19. However, at the same time, the recovered patients, who gave a ray of hope to one and all, are now struggling hard to counter rumours and to ward off the social stigma.
“Do you know what spreads faster than Covid-19 infection? Rumours. Within a day we were admitted to hospital after testing positive for Covid-19, rumours spread thick and fast that my father died, and my health deteriorated, and I was rushed to Chennai for advanced treatment. We recovered from the infection within 14 days and returned home,” said Dinesh Jain, 50, one of the family members.
Dinesh, who runs a jewellery store in the town, said the moment the family members returned home and completed the mandatory home quarantine protocols, they resumed their daily activities to prove that the rumourmongers were wrong and that they were all hale and healthy.
He was the first in the family to contract Covid-19 after attending a funeral at Sowcarpet in Chennai on June 4.
“I have never been down with a fever for the last 30 years or so. Within four days of visit to Chennai, I had a fever. My father and I tested positive for Covid-19 and were admitted to Mundiyambakkam hospital. My father is 79 years old with complaints of asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure. A couple of days later, my wife, son, brother and sister-in-law tested positive. We all recovered from the infection and returned home,” he said.
The social stigma associated with Covid-19 infection is immense. Cured patients face discrimination mainly because of fear and misinformation about the infection among the people.
“My maid stopped coming for work even after we recovered from the infection and returned home. Repeated calls to electricians and technicians go unanswered. I visited the water purifier agent’s office with a medical certificate to convince him to send a technician to attend the fault in the water purifier,” said Dinesh.
Dinesh’s driver, a 47-year-old diabetic, also recovered from the infection. “The care and treatment extended by the medical and paramedical staff at Mundiyambakkam hospital (Government Villupuram Medical College and Hospital) are excellent. Apart from the treatment, they served healthy diet and helped us recover fast,” the jeweller said.