Australians avoid Chinese restaurants amid coronavirus fears, fake news

Many establishments are facing permanent closure as customers stay away from Asian eateries

As fears rise over the outbreak, Chinese in Australia have reported being discriminated against and abused as presumed carriers of the disease

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Shark Fin House in Melbourne. Photo: Instagram

Published: 9:13pm, 13 Feb 2020Updated: 9:32am, 14 Feb 2020

The coronavirus outbreak has paralysed restaurant operators in Australia, as fears over the disease have driven customers away from Chinese districts and their businesses.

Establishments in Melbourne and Sydney have seen a decline in trade of more than 70 per cent over the recent weeks, and the economic impact has already forced some to close, local media reported.

Shark Fin House, which opened 30 years ago in Melbourne’s Chinatown, shut its doors last week after losing 80 per cent of its customers following the outbreak of the Covid-19 disease that originated in Wuhan.

Tim Chan, the son of Shark Fin House co-owner Gabriel Chan, said his family was hopeful the restaurant could reopen soon.

We may not be killed by the virus but instead killed by the business environment.

Victor Tan, restaurant manager

“It’s hard to overcome the sadness with this situation, but we find comfort knowing there are so many people reaching out with supportive messages,” he told Melbourne’s The Age newspaper.

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