Discrimination Against COVID-19 Patients, Frontliners, Will Be Prosecuted
COVID-19 PATIENTS – The Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases warned the public against descriminating COVID-19 patients, PUIs, PUMs, and frontliners.
Those who will do so would be prosecuted, said Karlo Nograles, IATF spokesperson, who noted an instance of discrimination in Lambunao town in Iloilo Province where shower a house filled with COVID-19 positive case with stones.
According to Panay News, the patriarch, 70 years of age, died from the disease. Unfortunately, his family: a wife and children, were also confirmed cases.
Upon knowing their situation, Nograles cited this to warn the public against doing such act, adding that LGUs are enjoined to issue EOs to implement ordinances to restrict and penalize discrimination.
As per the report, an earlier instance of discrimination in Iloilo was faced by frontliners of Medical City in Molo as they were shut off by barangays and boarding houses.
Ma. Rosario Vergeire of Department of Health lamented over it, further urged the public not to treat frontliners harshly.
Jason Gonzales, ex-mayor of Lamburao and Sangguniang Panlalawigan member also received reports that Iloilo City hospitals and other district hospitals rejected patients with health conditions other than the virus.
This is because Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial Hospital (DRYMH), was designated as the center for PUIs.
“As a result of this designation, coupled with confirmed COVID-19 infections in our town, our residents have been stigmatized,”
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