More than 600 people have so far died of the new virus - all but two of them in China - and more than 31,000 have been infected worldwide.
“Staffing was an issue, people believed in the rumours and did not want to come to Box Hill. That includes spenders and also staff. So we had to close early on a few days.”Richard Shi, another small business-owner in Box Hill, told SBS News business at his store Sweet Kingdom had also dropped by more than 40 per cent over the last two weeks, which translates into about $1,000 less per day.
There have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Box Hill, but last week the suburb’s biggest annual event, the Lunar New Year Festival, was abruptly cancelled “out of respect for the difficulties currently being experienced by many people.”, as well as false social media campaigns targeting Chinese communities., warning people to stay away from"all populated areas with Chinese nationals of a ratio of one to three non-Chinese Australians".
Federal Liberal and Labor MPs visited Box Hill’s shopping precinct on Friday, sending a partisan message that Australians should support small business owners as the coronavirus outbreak continues.
Are we have nothing to fear we have the great economic managers in charge as we've seen their brilliant at dealing with crisis. just become a marginal seat and you'll see millions of dollars of taxpayers money flow in for projects that none of you want
The Chinese are staying away from the Chinese
When Chinese people are faking immigration cards to escape quarantine, I think it’s fair to avoid places like Chinese grocery stores and restaurants etc. The 2 confirmed cases in Adelaide won’t even tell authorities where they’ve visited in the last 10 days. Who’d trust them?
If the Chinese communities do not clean up there food hygiene prep and intake of feral animal cuisine; then they need to feel the impact. Eating bats, snakes, rodents and animal organs and intestines is not the right approach to hold off killer deceases and virus.
Being of Chinese decent does not mean you will automatically have the virus. Some people are so dumb!
I have passed by few Chinese restaurants in the city. Some were completely empty whilst other non-Chinese nearby were packed.
Imagine ebay will be feeling the pinch too.
I’m not afraid get a grip people!
Well when you have them deliberately breaking protocol and not giving a damn about infecting other. The public has the right to be worried.
The death rate is so low we are more at risk from the annual flu. Get on with life & take normal respiratory hygiene precautions.
That one goes to the media. Hope yas are proud of your work. Not. nCoV auspol
The reason being I think, are the tourists that come in, then their families are impacted. I don’t think Australia has been given a level of comfort from the Chinese Australian communities themselves. I think that’s what’s needed, to consolidate the gov and health dept comms
A friend who works in a Thai restaurant (not in Chinatown) has reported a few telephone reservations asking whether 'many Chinese' eat at the restaurant
I guess people are being precautious with the coronavirus in the news with increasing death toll, at least no one has died from it in Australia
People are scared of Chinese. Thanks for your support 😊
So all the asians that would frequent these businesses who are staying away, are racist?
How dare people think of themselves and not the economy