https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/31/spate-of-anti-chinese-incidents-in-italy-amid-coronavirus-panic Whilst not condoning genuine xenophobia, or racism, the article particularly the reference to the café near the Trevi fountain omits one or two relevant facts. In the case of the Trevi fountain café two tourists, a 67-year-old woman and a 66-year-old man, came from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, and fell ill during their trip to Italy. They had, in fact, been staying in a hotel in central Rome very close to the café. Italians, from our own experience are extremely health conscious - to put it mildly! It borders on hypochondria. The slightest sniffle or cough sends them scurrying to the doctors or Farmacia and they spend a fortune on preventative medicines. Certainly, in our region, at least and in spite of the constant references from some media regarding 'far right' support , the vast majority of people are very tolerant and accepting of the influx of 'foreigners'. I don't know about other countries, like Vietnam referenced in the article, but the anti-Chinese sentiments being alleged, in the vast majority of incidents here are absolutely about fear of the unknown regarding the virus rather than anything to do with racism. It is ironic that some of the media have 'sensationalised' the spread and danger of the virus leaving many people alarmed and scared of the potential risks only to cry racism when the resulting overreaction occurs.
Spreading fear, all about filling the fearful and gullible masses with more 'prevention' vaccinations..