Communities may rage against minority groups in times of national trouble. The policy of blaming Jews for the post-war German economy is a case in point. This form of prejudice has now popped up in Australia where people generally get on well. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has criticized the community response to Corona Virus because of emerging racial prejudice. This is targeting people of Chinese descent living in the country and it’s wrong.
Misunderstandings Behind the Community Response to Corona Virus
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee is concerned about false assumptions regarding fellow citizens of Chinese appearance. These exaggerate the ease with which the virus can travel between people. This adds additional stress for those worrying about family in China – even parents – caught up in the epidemic.
The Committee is concerned about misunderstandings regarding how the disease spreads. To be absolutely clear, it explains, the virus only occurs during close contact with an infected person. This is usually during face-to-face / household contact. The possibility of the corona virus spreading across a room is zero.
Therefore We Should Reach Out Instead
A community response to corona virus that involves staring at people of Chinese origin in a restaurant is prejudice and that’s wrong. They are going through difficult times and their businesses are suffering. The public safety measures like air travel bans are not their fault, and they are disadvantaged too, the media statement says.
The Australian health authorities are doing their best to balance risk, proportionality, reasonableness and evidence. However, they have a duty to protect all their citizens from infection and this has required a robust approach. Let’s not forget what all Japanese-Americans went through after Pearl Harbor and how they were interned regardless of political values.
A community response to corona virus that targets a particular group is equally wrong and there is no denying that.
Related
The Corona Virus Window of Opportunity
Our Corona Virus Self Isolation Strategy
Preview Image: Entrance to Chinatown, Sydney Australia
Australian Health Protection Principal Committee Media Release
