How has COVID-19 affected the Asian Community?

By: ​Bonne Leung

It’s strange to think that on the last day of the year 2019, most of the people on the planet were celebrating the end of an era and welcoming the new decade with a warm embrace, unaware that in Wuhan, China, a novel coronavirus was on the verge of being identified, and by the first day of 2020, the WHO would be already be sending emergency support to contain the outbreak.

By the fifth day of the year, there were news flashes on international television from the WHO, announcing the nature of the new virus including a risk assessment as well as China’s reports of the status of infected patients and the ramifications on public health.

By March 2020, most of the world had gone into lockdown. Cheery ‘Open!’ signs were flipped to the other side, blinds were drawn, and the planet sat by idly while a virus ravaged the population.

While many communities have taken a blow in the face of people scrambling to find someone, something, to blame, none has suffered as much as the Asian community. Around the world, it’s not just Chinese persons who are targeted for unjust prejudice, but all who resemble the stereotype of slanted eyes and black hair have been faced with not only verbal abuse but also physical violence.

In the United States alone, cases of xenophobia and racism has increased by 58%, with a study from San Francisco State University recording 650 direct reports of discrimination against primarily Asian Americans between 18 and 26 March 2020. Cases of racial slurs and violent attacks, particularly towards Chinese Americans, have also increased, reaching 1,497 reports by 15 April. Not to mention the fact that former President Trump regarded the virus as the ‘Chinese virus’ which many were quick to point out was inherently racist. He deflected these claims, but referred to the virus again as the ‘Kung Flu’ later on, perpetuating the anti-Asian sentiment.

Even in South Asian countries, the prejudice continues, but in an entirely different manner. In Hong Kong, the divide between the Hong Kongese and travelers from the Mainland — or anyone speaking in Mandarin, for that matter — gapes further as over a hundred restaurants deny customers who didn’t speak Cantonese or English. Furthermore, hundreds of petitions have been signed by thousands of people to protest against letting Chinese travelers enter countries, with insensitive sentiments shared on social media regarding the origins of the virus. A petition signed by over 250,000 people claimed that the spread of the virus was due to ‘[chinese peoples’] unhygienic lifestyle’. The discrimination doesn’t stop at the injustices faced by the Chinese community. In Jordan, a South Korean man reported to the police that he was beaten and mocked for his Asian appearance.

The xenophobic narrative surrounding the virus has put strains on myriads of Asian-run businesses, many of which saw a dramatic drop in sales. While economies in general have taken a hit, there has been a significantly high number of small businesses like restaurants that have faced closure due to customers boycotting them or being vandalized.

So what has the community done in response to the discrimination? Many have rallied to the #HATEISAVIRUS movement, which aims to organize community-driven aid to help Asian American businesses affected by COVID-19 and the xenophobia that came with it. It took place mainly on digital platforms since in-person events were unsafe, and the team of enthusiastic and driven individuals have launched the ‘Raise A Million’ fundraiser in attempts to raise a million dollars to help support small Asian businesses. Many other communities have also stood in solidarity with the Asian community, and many continue to encourage others to continue supporting their businesses.

During a time like this, it’s important for everyone to stand together. There are only so many fronts that we can fight on at the same time, and when there is a common adversary, it seems asinine to be refusing to sit next to an Asian-resembling person due to xenophobic sentiments. Movements such as the #HATEISVIRUS is only the start of the fight back against discrimination, and while some might argue that these movements detracted from the importance of others such as the Black Lives Matter Movement, it’s important to remember that systematic racism affects every community differently, and by standing in solidarity with each other, the institutionalized discrimination can be undone