In this article Carmen H. Logie and Janet M. Turin address the fear of COVID-19 by correcting misinformation. While misinformation is indeed a driver of fear and stigma, other underlying facilitators produce stigma and need to be considered in stigma mitigation. HIV research and an understanding of the historical construction of illness can be leveraged to mitigate COVID-19 stigma. COVID-19 public health responses—essential for prevention and containment —also have the potential to exacerbate stigma. The authors outline four tensions between COVID-19 containment and stigma mitigation, and offer possible ways forward and reflection.