In a recent controversial statement, President Donald Trump has sparked outrage by referring to the coronavirus as a ‘Chinese virus’. This statement came during his address on Monday, March 16, where he also discussed the possibility of a recession in the United States and emphasized the need for social distancing.
Taking to Twitter to express his support for the industries affected by the virus, Trump stated, “The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!”
This tweet has garnered criticism from various quarters, including the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, who denounced the statement as “inaccurate and potentially harmful in promoting racist associations between the virus and those from China.”
Trump, facing accusations of losing control of the situation, has released a series of sweeping guidelines that will temporarily reshape the norms of American society over the next 15 days. The US has reported over 4,600 confirmed cases of the virus, with 79 known deaths from the infection.