Abstract
Background: COVID-19 has contributed to the development of stigma in the community of Jeddah, thus causing negative attitudes and beliefs toward individuals linked to the disease.
 Objective: To describe stigma related to COVID-19 positive patients and find out factors associated with stigma subscales.
 Subjects and Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study conducted on COVID-19 positive patients (lab confirmed) in Jeddah. The sample size was 420 patients, and the data was collected using a validated questionnaire adapted from HIV/AIDS stigma instrument (HASI-P). The data were analysed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS, version 27.0).
 Results: Total number of responses was (419). The median age was 32 (IQR, 25-43). Both genders, Saudi and non-Saudi, were included. The tool used to measure the COVID-19 related stigma of different six subscales. The verbal abuse had a median of (0, IQR=0-0.25), negative self-perception (median=0, IQR=0.02), health care neglect (median=0, IQR=0-0), social isolation (median=0.2, IQR=0-0.6), fear of contagion (median=0.33, IQR=0-0.83) and workplace stigma (median=0, IQR=0-0). Male gender was significantly associated with social isolation and fear of contagion, while working in the health care field was associated with workplace-related stigma. 
 Conclusion: COVID-19-related social stigma was reported by a considerable number of Jeddah healthcare providers, specifically workplace-related stigma. Unexpectedly, males need more attention as regard to social isolation and fear of contagion. The results of this study can be of used to guide supportive social interventions to suppress the COVID-19 related stigma.
Highlights
The world is facing huge changes due to the COVID-19 outbreak that started in late 2019
COVID-19 has contributed to the development of stigma in the community of Jeddah, causing negative attitudes and beliefs toward individuals linked to the disease
To describe stigma related to COVID-19 positive patients and find out factors associated with stigma subscales
Summary
The world is facing huge changes due to the COVID-19 outbreak that started in late 2019. Lockdown has caused people of different ages to have social stigmatization. In the context of COVID-19, stigma is the negative attitudes and beliefs toward people who were linked to the disease, for example, those who tested positive or have been released from quarantine [4]. This will lead to discrimination, labeling, stereotyping, and other negative behaviors toward them [4]. COVID-19 has contributed to the development of stigma in the community of Jeddah, causing negative attitudes and beliefs toward individuals linked to the disease.
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