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North Sumatra villagers assault COVID-19 patient who 'escapes' self-isolation
The recent assault on a person with COVID-19 in North Sumatra is a case study of the prevailing social stigma in the country against people who have contracted the virus
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Badie Uzzaman (foreground), a 26-year-old volunteer with NGO Dompet Dhuafa, speaks with a self-isolating COVID-19 patient while delivering food aid on July 11, 2021, in South Tangerang, Banten. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
A
man with COVID-19 has suffered serious injury after an unidentified group of people recently assaulted him, alleging that Selamat Sianipar, 45, had broken out of self-isolation and tried to spread the disease to other residents in Sianipar Bulu Silape village, Toba regency, North Sumatra.
Selamat tested positive for the disease on Wednesday, when he visited a health clinic for a medical consultation, after which he went into self-isolation in a hut near his house. However, he reportedly emerged from the hut the next day and tried to interact with other villagers, which elicited a violent response from fellow residents.
In the video of the assault that recently went viral, several people are seen surrounding the hut armed with lengths of wood and rope, which they then use to beat and drag Selamat.
Toba regency secretary Audy Murphy Sitorus said Selamat acted suspiciously after getting his COVID-19 test result and tried to make physical contact with others in an alleged attempt to spread the virus.
“When [Selamat] met other people, he made physical contact, which triggered an angry response from the public,” he said.
Audy added that the local COVID-19 task force had taken Selamat to Porsea Regional General Hospital (RSUD Porsea) to be treated for his injuries and COVID-19. Audy also said the local task force had traced everyone with whom Selamat had direct physical contact.
Anderson Regen Silaen, one of Selamat’s relatives, said on Saturday that his family planned to report the assault to the Toba Samosir Police, as Selamat had suffered trauma as a result of the incident in addition to his injuries.
