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Coronavirus scare triggers stigma against students, Chinese Indonesians
The government has been urged to address misinformation before it leads to discrimination and violence.
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Residents wear masks in Penagi, Natuna, Riau Islands, on Sunday. Natuna Regent Abdul Hamid Rizal said residents were in good health and there was no exodus from the island after the arrival of Indonesian citizens returning from Hubei. (Antara/M Risyal Hidayat)
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ndonesian students returning from China and Chinese Indonesians have had to suffer the effects of misinformation about the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has caused a public stigma against the two groups.
Adam Amrismafasyah, a 19-year-old student at Jiangsu Normal University thought he would be able to rest easy once he arrived in his hometown in Muaraenim regency, South Sumatra, on Saturday. However, he was met with with suspicion and outright paranoia from locals who were not convinced that he was free of the deadly virus.
“Some of my neighbors have steered clear of me. Others have asked me upfront whether I had been thoroughly examined and whether I was completely free of the coronavirus,” Adam told The Jakarta Post in a phone interview on Tuesday.
He said the situation grew even more uncomfortable after health officials visited his home. The officials were fulfilling their orders to examine Adam daily to determine whether he was exhibiting any symptoms of the coronavirus. The visits began to attract crowds in the neighborhood.
He said his neighbors’ attitudes were frustrating, especially considering the fact that his university was located in Xuzhou, Jiangsou province, approximately 676 kilometers from the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei province.
Despite his frustration, Adam said he understood why locals would scrutinize him as there were fears of the coronavirus spreading to Indonesia. He said he had complied with established safety procedures to alleviate public concerns by wearing a mask – which he must do for 14 days – and limiting outdoor activities.
“I think I’d do the same thing if I was in their position,” he said.
