The fear of public shaming is becoming so prevalent in some Canadian provinces that doctors worry it is driving virus cases underground.
For a time, Cortland Cronk, 26, was Canada’s most famous — and infamous — coronavirus patient.
Mr. Cronk, a traveling salesman, went viral after testing positive in November and recounting his story of being infected while traveling for work to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
He was called a virus-spreader, a job-killer, a liar and a sleaze. Online memes painted him as the Grinch, since subsequent outbreaks led to restrictions against Christmas parties. Many people, including a newspaper columnist, made elaborate fun of his name.
