False Rumors On Chinese Spread In Japan
As the number of cases of new coronavirus increase in Japan, false accusations against Chinese people and groundless rumors are spreading. The health ministry is calling on people not to be taken in by the misinformation.
The ministry says false posts on Chinese have gone viral on social media since the outbreak. It says officials have been repeatedly contacted through telephone and email by people passing along the rumor that "Chinese are intentionally spreading the virus for the purpose of terrorism."
The ministry also says there was a complaint by medical staff treating infected patients that the person's child is facing discrimination.
Hiroshi Umeda of the ministry's infectious diseases control division told a news conference on Saturday that the situation is very regrettable. He added the government will make every effort to swiftly release accurate and understandable information.
