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Councilors to host solidarity dim-sum brunch in Chinatown

By adamg on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 1:50pm

City councilors Michelle Wu (at large) and Ed Flynn (Chinatown, South Boston, South End, Downtown) have organized a dim-sum lunch at China Pearl in Chinatown on Saturday to show there's no more risk of coronavirus infection in the neighborhood than anywhere else in the city.

Wu said residents of East Asian descent, especially kids, are beginning to see overt racism over the virus, first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan and now called COVID-19, and that Chinatown as a whole is feeling the brunt - the recent Lunar New Year was particularly quiet in the neighborhood, when normally it's the most bustling time of year for local restaurants and other businesses.

"The risk of coronavirus in Boston is less than the risk of catching the flu," she said.

Flynn said that at a community meeting last week on the virus, one high-school student told him that when she got on the subway recently, people either moved away from her or left the car entirely.

"There is a lot of anti-Chinese sentiment here in the city and across the country, unfortunately," he said.

Also scheduled to attend: Quincy City Council President Nina Liang.

Neighborhoods: 
Chinatown
Topics: 
Dining
Politics
Free tagging: 
Covid-19
Ed Flynn
Michelle Wu


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Comments

By AsianGirl on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 2:05pm.

I'll admit, I have noticed that the seats next to me on the busses and trains are left empty more often now, but I choose to turn that into a plus--less crowding into my personal space is always good. :)

And it's probably horrible of me to do this, but there are times that I will purposefully sniffle and/or fake a small cough just to troll some obnoxious people. :P

By MMMMpapis on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 2:31pm.

Coughing While Asian Corona Virus:

https://youtu.be/HZq7fwUywR4

By AsianGirl on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 2:32pm.

Exactly like that! LOL

By SalSal on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 7:03pm.

Does it work on the people who jam up the subway doors?

By anon on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 2:40pm.

Honest question, and probably not the right forum... but I've heard statements like this very often: "The risk of coronavirus in Boston is less than the risk of catching the flu"

My question isn't whether or not that is true, I'm sure it is true since the flu is very common and widespread.

My question is whether the severity of the consequences for catching the flu is the same as coronavirus? What percentage of people who catch the flu actually die, compared to what percentage of people who catch coronavirus actually die?

I would compare this to saying "The risk of getting end-stage cancer is much less than catching the flu"... maybe true, but I would definitely much rather have the flu than terminal cancer. I'm pretty sure I'd also much rather have the flu than coronavirus based on all of the worldwide concern, quarantine, high death rate, etc.

By Stevil on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 3:55pm.

But I believe the death rate from the flu is a fraction of 1%. The coronavirus is too new to know yet. Probably many, many undiagnosed mild cases (which is actually a problem because they can still spread it). The ratio of deaths per diagnosed case of coronavirus is about 2%. However, due to the likely number of undiagnosed cases, one epidemiologist estimates about a 1% death rate.

That said - it seems to have little impact on young healthy individuals. Those over 60 and with compromised immune systems are far more likely to have serious problems

Bottom line - too soon to know, very complicated - but perhaps about 1% - and you are probably correct that the ordinary flu is less risky than coronavirus.

By thegirl on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 4:34pm.

Regarding flu deaths:

So far, it looks like the 2019-2020 death toll won’t be as high as it was in the 2017-2018 season, when 61,000 deaths were linked to the virus. However, it could equal or surpass the 2018-2019 season's 34,200 flu-related deaths.

Overall, the CDC estimates that 12,000 and 61,000 deaths annually since 2010 can be blamed on the flu. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the flu kills 290,000 to 650,000 people per year.

...

In recent weeks, however, the spotlight has been firmly on the new coronavirus, which the WHO officially named COVID-19 on February 11. The concern is justified, as more than 1,000 people in mainland China have died from the virus—a larger number than those who died from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic. To date, there are 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US.

https://www.health.com/condition/cold-flu-sinus/how-many-people-die-of-t...

Recent flu season data, directly from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm

Information about COVID-19 from MA DPH: https://www.mass.gov/guides/information-on-the-outbreak-of-2019-novel-co...

By cybah on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 3:00pm.

What a perfect time to go patronize your favorite places in Chinatown. Go show your support and stand up to stupid racism.

Speaking of which, anyone want to join me for some hot pot? My fav place usually has a line but I bet its empty!

By Kaz on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 7:07pm.

Dip my raw meat in tepid water with other people at the height of flu season?

No thanks.

By Nah on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 9:44pm.

Well we don't want to eat hot pot with you anyway... especially if you're bringing that attitude to the table.

By anon on Thu, 02/13/2020 - 8:23am.

While fears of the ConVid virus being isolated to Chinatown can be seen as racist I do not understand the hostility towards someone who wants to avoid intimate communal dining during the height of the Flu season?

Everyone around me seems to be sick with some being sick many times this season. I do wonder if the lack of frigid weather is keeping these bugs alive for longer but the season seems worse then in the past. Maybe we could use a few really cold days just to move things along.

By anon on Thu, 02/13/2020 - 1:03pm.

That's not a direct effect, but a "people are moving around easily" effect.

Snowmageddon was a healthy time because people were very limited and sticking close to home and work.

By Anon on Thu, 02/13/2020 - 1:31pm.

Not know about soup?

By anon on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 6:23pm.

Let's have a jewish christmas weekend.

By anon on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 10:46pm.

Ignorant comment. Plenty of blended families celebrate Christmas together, including mine. Stop with the stereotypes.

By The Ghost of Charlie Doyle... on Wed, 02/12/2020 - 10:39pm.

I was hoping someone would do this. It’s not surprising given Michelle’s long standing with the community and Eddie being the councilor. Eddie might be the nicest person on the council.

By Lee on Thu, 02/13/2020 - 10:48pm.

My opinion is him was influenced by his dad and his foolish campaign against MILF advert in bus stops.
But in the past couple of years he has risen in my estimation. I often see him on the streets of Chinatown. Hardworking guy.

By anon on Thu, 02/13/2020 - 12:50pm.

We went for dim sum two sunday's ago and it was packed! It was the lion/dragon day thing going on and the restaurant full with line, and the streets busy following the celebrations around from street to street. Just a few masks here and there outside.