Asian community warns of coronavirus backlash
“One thing that I think is more dangerous than the spread of germs is the spread of misinformation."
There are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in New York City as of yet, but fear and panic are rapidly spreading throughout the five boroughs, particularly in Asian American neighborhoods, where residents fear not only the virus itself but xenophobia and racist attacks because of it.
The fear is palpable in neighborhoods like Bensonhurst, which have large populations of Chinese Americans, according to Brooklyn community leaders who are urging residents to remain calm.
Councilmember Mark Treyger, a Democrat representing Coney Island, Gravesend and parts of Bensonhurst, decried what he said were dangerous acts of discrimination against Chinese Americans by bigots who are using the fact that the coronavirus originated in China as an excuse to attack Asians here.