![\"\"](\"https:\/\/world.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/asianstudent.jpg\")
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Every disease outbreak brings an accompanying outbreak of\u00a0fear<\/a>. Already we\u2019re seeing coverage on the spread of\u00a0coronavirus fear<\/a>\u00a0which leads to\u00a0misinformation<\/a>, an\u00a0effect on the economy<\/a>\u00a0and, perhaps the\u00a0most alarming<\/a>,\u00a0xenophobia<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n Social\u00a0stigmatisation and xenophobia<\/a>\u00a0are, unfortunately,\u00a0well known features<\/a>\u00a0of disease outbreaks. And there is potential for xenophobic sentiment to build in Australian schools.<\/p>\n In an outbreak situation, xenophobia does not feel like racism. Excluding people who \u201ccome from\u201d the epicenter of the outbreak is merely seen as a safety precaution. But precautions can sometimes go too far.<\/p>\n The\u00a0NSW government<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0several private schools<\/a>\u00a0have requested students who have just returned from China remain at home for two weeks. This goes beyond the advice of Australia\u2019s chief medical officer and federal government \u2013 that only\u00a0those returning<\/a>\u00a0for the Hubei province (or those who have been in contact with an infected person) stay away from public places.<\/p>\n The NSW health minister\u00a0said the advice<\/a>\u00a0was not \u201cmedically necessary\u201d but was prompted by community wishes for such measures.<\/p>\n I\u2019m trying my best not to be a nativist piece of shit because international students add so much to this University but a Chinese student just sneezed on me and I let out a yelp<\/p>\n — uccconfessions (@uccconfessions) January 29, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n