Fear can be more harmful than the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in controlling the corona virus disease 2019 epidemic

Abstract

The current corona virus disease 2019 outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 started in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has put the world on alert. To safeguard Chinese citizens and to strengthen global health security, China has made great efforts to control the epidemic. Many in the global community have joined China to limit the epidemic. However, discrimination and prejudice driven by fear or misinformation have been flowing globally, superseding evidence and jeopardizing the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 efforts. We analyze this phenomenon and its underlying causes and suggest practical solutions.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Coronavirus disease 2019; Discrimination; Fear; Outbreak; Prejudice; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Figure 1

Corona virus disease 2019 epidemic map in China on February 17, 2020. Different colors indicate the number range of corona virus disease 2019 cases.

Figure 2

Fluctuation of the daily number of confirmed corona virus disease 2019 cases in China in recent 2 wk (February 3 to 16, 2020). Blue color: Number of confirmed cases; Orange color: Number of suspected cases; Black color: Number of cured cases; Gray color: Number of deaths.