WHO to Trump: Viruses Know No Borders

When asked about why the US President keeps using the term ‘Chinese virus’, Trump further defended his classification of the coronavirus, as a ‘Chinese virus’ at a White House news conference on the pandemic.

“It’s not racist at all,” Trump said, “No, not at all.”

Trump was asked about his insistent use of the term ‘Chinese virus’ amid reports of dozens of instances of prejudice against Chinese Americans who have been attributed to spreading the COVID-19.

“Because it comes from China,” Trump said to the journalist who asked him that question. “That’s why.”

"I have a great love for all of the people from our country, but as you know China tried to say at one point ... that it was caused by American soldiers. That can't happen. It's not gonna happen, not as long as I'm President. It comes from China," the President said.

“Viruses know no borders and they don’t care about your ethnicity, the color of your skin or how much money you have in the bank. So, it’s really important we be careful in the language we use lest it leads to the profiling of individuals associated with the virus,” Dr. Mike Ryan, the executive director of WHO’s emergencies program, said at a news conference when reporters asked about Trump’s provocative comments against Asians.

“This is a time for solidarity, this is a time for facts, this is a time to move forward together, to fight this virus together. There is no blame in this,” Ryan added, “All we need now is to identify the things we need to do to move forward quickly, with speed and to avoid any indication of ethnic or other associations with this virus.” 

By B.Alexishvili