Stigma” is a Greek term originally referring to bodily signs such as a burn or a cut to denote anegative/depreciative condition referred to a person (e.g., being a slave, a criminal, a sinner, or a socialoutcast) and, therefore, to indicate which people should be “avoided.” Currently, stigma is not usuallyrelated to a purely physical sign but frequently includes the negative discriminatory thoughts, feelings, andbehaviors towards people with certain physical, behavioral, or racial features perceived as displeasing or athreat by other members of the society.Since its appearance in December 2019, COVID-19 has fueled fear, anxiety, and panic worldwide, due toits novelty, high infectivity, and absence of effective evidence-based treatment. Faced with this blurryand uncertain situation, fear and its associated behaviors are not uncommon human reactions. The widemedia coverage of the pandemic has contributed to the spread of the fear of contagion and subsequentstigmatizing behaviors. Following the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, people around the worldeasily adopted stigmatizing beliefs and behaviors towards those diagnosed with COVID-19 and their closecontacts and also places, people (e.g., healthcare workers [HCW]), and ethnic groups (e.g., Chinesepeople) believed to be the cause of the pandemic.
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