Shaming and judgment during COVID-19 hinder contact tracing in Hamilton: health official

Hamilton's medical officer of health says people shaming each other for being unable to perfectly follow COVID-19 precautions is hindering public health's ability to stop thespread of the virus.

"We're worried that sometimes people aren't giving us all the information because they're afraid they might be judged or they might be embarrassed because they haven't actually followed all the rules," said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson.

But public health officials are focused on limiting the spread of the virus, she says, not judgment or discipline.

"[Speaking with public health] is a time to have a discussion about it so we can do something about it if we just bring on this moral tone, it ultimately doesn't help us."

Richardson saysit's impossible to know how often people aren't offering up the full details. Without that crucial information, public health cannot fight the pandemic to its fullest potential.

But a big reason behind some of the hiding or embarrassment,she says, isharshpublic judgment.

Whether it's a cold stare across a grocery store aisle toward an unmaskedcustomer, or it's a rebuke from someoneonline, frustration and division are seeping into daily life as public health officials call for a united approach.

Richardson says what may seem like someone's ignorance to the rules may actually be their best effort.

"Somebody who can't wear a mask because they have some sort kind of respiratory problem, but does wear a face shield to try and help, we do see they are sometimes met with judgment for not having done that," she said.

"We heard from businesses loud and clear in the fall and into November, they just didn't understand how to follow the rules in their settings. They're not experts in infection, prevention and control."

Other local health leaders, like Dr. Zain Chagla, the co-medical director of infection control and an infectious diseases physician at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, have also noticed harsh public judgment.

"Somehow in all of this, very moral and religious tones were mixed with restrictions and responses and created a good versusevil, reward versuspunish dichotomy," he tweeted in late January.

"It makes it difficult to separate the complexities of how we function as a society and country, and follow the science."

Chagla saysthe same moral tone we're seeing with COVID-19 is also seen in sexually transmitted diseases.

"We want to create environments for people where they're still able to adhere to the rules but not feel ashamed if they test positive, not feel ashamed if they have to put their contact into quarantine," he said in an interview on Thursday.

'Moral tone' isn't the best approach

For those who didn't follow the rules properly and could have, Richardson says,a nagging lecture isn't the best approach.

"It actually leads to more people hiding from it or more conflict rather than us moving forward with people able to follow the rules."

She notessome of Hamilton'shomeless community have been the target of harsh criticismfor always not following rules.

Chagla sayspeople also need to remember the virus has hitsome communitiesharder than others.

"We have to be really carefulabout necessarily saying, 'We aren't staying home as much, we're not masking as much as we need to,' where there are big blind spots in our response, and our vulnerable populations that still disproportionately feel this pandemic more than everyone else," he said.

"I think there are people that, rightfully so, think certain industries and places the pandemic is being driven by where again, it's not the full story. There are other places where the pandemic is hitting and people feel exasperated because they see that but not necessarily equate it to that there are other problems ongoing leading to this."

And then there are people who choose to blatantly ignore the rules.

"Eighty per cent of people are going to do the right thing. There's some group between five and 20 per cent that are going to say "I don't agree with this one. I'm going to sit this one out,'" Richardson said.

"There may be a smaller subset of that who can't follow the rules, but we need to work with those people to show that it works, to show it makes a difference that respectful decision-making we do as a society in determining what the rules are, those all have to be the underpinnings of what we do rather than a shame or judgmentgame."

Richardson says when it comes to loved ones not following the rules, it's important to listen to understand and ultimately respect someone's right to make their own decisions.

"Just say, 'Look, I'm really concerned and help me understand because I'm really worried about you. Is there something you don't understand, did you not know these are the rules? Did you not know what that meant for you?'" she said.