Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said there is too much stigma and discrimination being associated with people who have COVID-19 or whose family members have become infected. Tam spoke out in a statement today through the Public Health Agency of Canada.
"This may happen, for example, when people link an illness, such as COVID-19, with a certain race, industry, or community which can lead to stereotyping and treating people unfairly," said Tam.
Tam praised most Canadians for being supportive and compassionate, but added it doesn't excuse the bad behaviour of those who act inappropriately towards others.
"Stigma and discrimination is not only unfair and disrespectful, it can be very harmful to our mental health, and can cause people to be apprehensive or afraid to get tested for COVID-19 or access the care, treatment and support they need. Addressing and preventing stigma is essential to making our communities safer and healthier," she said.
Tam added that Canadians can become more proactive not only by sharing valid information but also by speaking out when others are pushing information that is false or from unreliable sources.
"We can also take an active role in preventing this by making sure to only read and share information from credible and trustworthy sources, such as public health authorities in our area or Canada.ca/coronavirus. Speak out against stigmatizing language and behaviours!"
Tam was recapping the first year of the pandemic in Canada and admitted that our health care system failed some of the most vulnerable citizens in the past year. She encouraged all Canadians to do whatever it takes to stay healthy.
"Canadians are urged to remain vigilant, continue following local public health advice, and consistently maintain individual practices that keep us and our families safer: stay home/self-isolate if you have any symptoms, think about the risks and reduce non-essential activities and outings to a minimum, avoid all non-essential travel, and maintain individual protective practices of physical distancing, hand, cough and surface hygiene and wearing a well-fitted and properly worn face mask as appropriate (including in shared spaces, indoors or outdoors, with people from outside of your immediate household).
"Aiming to have the fewest interactions with the fewest number of people, for the shortest time, at the greatest distance possible, while wearing the best-fitting mask is a simple rule that we can all apply to help limit the spread of COVID-19, as vaccine programs expand to protect all Canadians."
