Century-old Chinatowns feel brunt of coronavirus panic

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Normally bustling century-old Chinatowns from Melbourne to San Francisco have fallen quiet and businesses are struggling to survive as fears over the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak ripple around the globe. Image Credit: AFP

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'Scaremongering is rampant' complains Max Huang, owner of the Juicy Bao restaurant in Melbourne's historic Chinese district. 'Customers won't come in if they can avoid it.' Image Credit: AFP

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Although the epicentre of the COVID-19 epidemic is more than a ten-hour-flight way, and Australia has seen just a handful of cases, the stigma of a disease that has claimed more than 1,500 lives is pervasive. Image Credit: AFP

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A woman works in an empty coffee shop in New York's Chinatown. | Businesses report their earnings have dropped by more than half and they have been forced to cut staff hours dramatically, a situation echoed in Chinatowns across the world. Image Credit: AFP

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A dog walks between apartment blocks in Sihanoukville's Chinatown district, Cambodia. | A ban on travellers from China has hit many neighbourhoods particularly hard. Image Credit: Reuters

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Hoping to reassure would-be customers, some businesses have tacked up notices saying they disinfect their interiors regularly to prevent disease. Image Credit: AFP

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There are no confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City and the city is urging people to visit Chinatown to shop and dine but revenues are still down around 40% as fears continue over the coronavirus. Image Credit: AFP

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Visitors desert Los Angeles Chinatown over COVID-19 fears. Image Credit: AFP

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People wear masks as they walk through New York's Chinatown. Image Credit: AFP

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A deserted Los Angeles Chinatown as people stay away due to fear of the novel coronavirus. Image Credit: AFP

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Half empty pews are seen during a mass at the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Manila’s Chinatown, Philippines. Image Credit: AP

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A man wears a mask in Chinatown in New York. Image Credit: Reuters

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Despite there being no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Namibia, its effects have been nevertheless felt in the Chinese business community based in Windhoek. Image Credit: AFP

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A restaurant worker wearing a mask stands in front of a Chinese restaurant clustered with photos of the menu items in Yokohama's Chinatown, near Tokyo. A top Olympic official made clear Friday the 2020 Games in Tokyo will not be cancelled despite the virus that has spread from China. Image Credit: AP

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A lady crossing the street in Melbourne's Chinatown. Image Credit: AFP

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A woman wearing a face mask walking past a charms shop in the Binondo district of Chinatown in Manila. Image Credit: AFP

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A shopkeeper waiting for customers in Melbourne's Chinatown. Image Credit: AFP

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A man walks by a deserted Los Angeles Chinatown as most stay away due to fear of the novel coronavirus. Image Credit: AFP

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A man wearing a mask passes by the Chinatown main entrance gate in Incheon, South Korea. Image Credit: AP

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There are no confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City and the city is urging people to visit Chinatown to shop and dine. Image Credit: AFP

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An empty restaurant stands in New York's Chinatown. Image Credit: AFP

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People walk through New York's Chinatown. Image Credit: AFP

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A worker sits in an empty gift shop in New York's Chinatown. Image Credit: AFP

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People walk by an empty coffee shop in New York's Chinatown. Image Credit: AFP

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A view of the deserted Los Angeles Chinatown. Image Credit: AFP

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People wearing face masks walking in front of an altar in the Binondo district of Chinatown in Manila. Image Credit: AFP

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Tourists putting on face masks in London's Chinatown district. Image Credit: AFP

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Melbourne’s normally bustling Chinatown empties. Image Credit: AFP

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A man sitting inside a Chinese restaurant in London's Chinatown district. Image Credit: AFP

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A worker waiting for customers in London's Chinatown district. Image Credit: AFP

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