A 23-year-old woman from Mulund East not only suffered the trauma of having contracted a deadly virus, she had to face the unsympathetic neighbours who circulated a rumour that she was refusing to get admitted to a hospital for COVID-19 treatment.

The woman tested positive for the novel Coronavirus on June 25 and went to a nearby facility for institutional quarantine, but was asked to self isolate at home if she could maintain a safe distance from her family members. The instruction was based on the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research, which states that those with mild symptoms should home quarantine to reduce the burden on the healthcare system.