Quarantine and Social Isolation During the COVID-19: Sociological Perspective

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness (WHO). To control the transmission several factors were taken governments such as quarantine, social distancing among the people washing of hands, wider the running water and wearing face marks. Quarantine implies the restriction on the movement of people and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Infected people were sent to isolation centers for medical treatment by the governments and encouraged them to maintain physical distance as well as social distance. When it comes to define in quarantine it's a state of social isolation in which people from elsewhere or who have been exposed to infectious disease are placed. The main objective of this study was to investigate quarantine an social isolation measures in the midst of COVID-19 in sociological perspective, and also understand the significant relationship between quarantine and social isolation. Besides, to identify the main areas to be targeted by supportive social psychological intervention for different categories of people exposed to the pandemic. The result of this study will help governments to know the appropriate and effective practices to use to control the spread of COVID-19. It will also help them to examine the social psychological impacts of the pandemic. Phenomenological methodology was employed in this research and the analysis comparatively found that, the second wave quarantined people were discriminated, labeled and marginalized in society than the first wave quarantined people because of the irregular fear of disease. The situation of quarantine has created a social stigma during the quarantine period. Overall, the study argues that quarantined person is defined that in social context as an illness or an attempt to stay healthy while being sick. Moreover, it is quite evident that quarantined person is constantly being marginalized, isolated, discriminated and labelled, final neglected by others.