QUETTA: The government of Baloc­histan on Wednesday decided to ban sharing personal information of Covid-19 positive patients.

“Unfortunately, the Covid-19 patients are facing discrimination because their names and other personal information are being shared on social, print and electronic media who along with dealing with the infection also have deal to with added mental stress,” said Rubaba Buledi, Parlia­mentary Secr­etary for Health.

As a result, many people are avoiding testing for the virus despite showing symptoms, she added.

“Therefore, hospitals and testing laboratories have been directed to not share personal information of patients in Balochistan because we are receiving complaints especially from rural areas of leaking personal information of female patients,” Buledi said.

Covid-19 causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2020