Fear reflexes of the Virus

The lock out of Wuhan city is really like a drama in a horror movie. As the Wuhan virus spreads to other big cities in China, one wonders whether these cities will be locked out too? Some airlines have started to suspend some flights in and out of China and countries are pulling their citizens out of  Wuhan by chartered flights.

In Japan a local  driver has contacted the virus after driving a group of Chinese tourists from Wuhan. The mayor of Wuhan said that 5 million people have left the city before the lock out. There is now a fear of coming into contact with China nationals with some netizens in countries like Malaysia calling for a total ban of travellers from China. Racism against the China nationals is sprouting.

Though I am not prejudiced  against PRC nationals, I have begun to fear coming into contact with them. The third day of CNY was a public holiday and though the departmental stores were shouting out attractive Sales, my husband and I decided to avoid the crowds and went to Macritchie Park for a walk. What we didn't expect was that many park visitors whom we overtook or who overtook us on the trail were speaking in Chinese with a clear PRC accent. I guess they thought the park was a safe place where they would feel less unwelcomed. At the last leg of our walk I was really tired and had slowed down when suddenly one of the 2 guys at the back of us started sneezing loudly. As they closed behind us I could pick up their conversation in typical China accent. Never was there such a sudden surge of energy in me and I started to bolt.  Another day at the wet market while mulling over fishes at a stall the voice of a lady close behind asking about prices in clear PRC accent drew a reflex action in me when I stepped away quickly. I must say I feel rather ashamed of my actions but ascribe them to fear.

"This week, my ethnicity has made me feel like I was part of a threatening and diseased mass," said Sam Phan, a master student at Manchester U, UK relating incidents when people scrambled away from him. He continued writing in the Guardian, "It's important to see us in all our diversity, as individual human beings, and to challenge stereotypes. The coronavirus is a human tragedy, so let's not allow fear to breed hatred, intolerance and racism."

I hear you Sam but I am still scared. I shall try to control my fear reflexes or at least be more discreet.