Keep ordering Chinese food

The coronavirus outbreak that we are currently in the midst of, as we know it, rooted from Wuhan, China. Since then it has become a global issue, affecting countless countries and thus raising some tensions between groups out of fear of spreading the virus to more areas. However, this pandemic should not be an excuse for xenophobia to come out.

It is an absolutely crazy assumption to think that every Asian person you may have come in contact with has come from China—and an affected area of it at that. China is huge, and not to mention that many Chinese-Americans may have either never been to China or have not been there in years.

Although not completely impossible, profiling and treating those of Chinese ethnicity differently because of the coronavirus is unacceptable.

But the xenophobia does not stop there. Of course, social isolation is necessary in order to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 to vulnerable populations. However, it is not okay to deem certain groups of people more contagious than others just because they may appear to come from somewhere that may be another affected part of the world.

You are not being cautious, you are being xenophobic.

At this stage of the pandemic, anybody could have been anywhere. Your best bet for staying safe is to avoid contact with as many people as you can, hence why we are currently going through the measures that we are.

It is hard to say what the world climate will be like at the end of this, if we will continue to keep China, Italy, and other affected parts of the world at arm’s length. But whatever happens we cannot let negative connotations towards these groups continue.

Since the outbreak, Chinese-run businesses have especially taken a hit, even before all restaurants and bars in Illinois were ordered to be closed. These are people just trying to make it in their own country, trying to navigate the craziness that the coronavirus has caused our nation just as we all are. They do not need ignorant people to make things worse for them.

If you are able, take the time to support your local Chinese restaurant to help keep them afloat and to let them know that the world has not turned their back on them. While we may not be able to go support them in person, simply ordering take-out from them will make all the difference.

Your food will most likely not be contaminated or any more dangerous for you to eat than any other restaurant you may be ordering from.

Nonetheless, the implications of what the world will look like when this all blows over is uncertain, thus it will be important to keep this support going as soon as we can.