This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/524505-japan-foreigners-food-coronavirus/
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Japanese health officials withdraw advisory to not ‘eat with foreigners’ due to Covid-19 amid backlash | Japanese health officials withdraw advisory to not ‘eat with foreigners’ due to Covid-19 amid backlash |
| (4 months later) | |
| Health officials in Japan’s Ibaraki Prefecture have retracted an advisory that encouraged people to avoid sharing meals with foreigners due to Covid-19 concerns, after it was blasted as discriminatory. | Health officials in Japan’s Ibaraki Prefecture have retracted an advisory that encouraged people to avoid sharing meals with foreigners due to Covid-19 concerns, after it was blasted as discriminatory. |
| The guidance, which warned farmers against eating with foreigners, was circulated by the Itako Health Center earlier this week, NHK reported. The advisory was reportedly received by local agricultural cooperatives (JAs) as well as city authorities in Ibaraki Prefecture, which fall under the center’s jurisdiction. | The guidance, which warned farmers against eating with foreigners, was circulated by the Itako Health Center earlier this week, NHK reported. The advisory was reportedly received by local agricultural cooperatives (JAs) as well as city authorities in Ibaraki Prefecture, which fall under the center’s jurisdiction. |
| “If you talk to a foreigner, wear a mask. As well, please do not eat with them,” the document reportedly read. The center appeared to suggest that foreigners are one of the primary sources of coronavirus infections in the area. | “If you talk to a foreigner, wear a mask. As well, please do not eat with them,” the document reportedly read. The center appeared to suggest that foreigners are one of the primary sources of coronavirus infections in the area. |
| “There are many patients with the novel coronavirus suspected of being infected by foreigners,” the document warned. | “There are many patients with the novel coronavirus suspected of being infected by foreigners,” the document warned. |
| The peculiar advisory was short-lived, however. On Friday, it was pulled, with local health officials saying the contents were inappropriate. Apologizing for the blunder, the health center said it did not intend to “discriminate against foreigners.” | The peculiar advisory was short-lived, however. On Friday, it was pulled, with local health officials saying the contents were inappropriate. Apologizing for the blunder, the health center said it did not intend to “discriminate against foreigners.” |
| “We are sorry if any of the expressions were misleading,” the center said, as cited by Tokyo Reporter. | “We are sorry if any of the expressions were misleading,” the center said, as cited by Tokyo Reporter. |
| The apology did not placate online observers, who accused the health officials of racism and xenophobia. | The apology did not placate online observers, who accused the health officials of racism and xenophobia. |
| Ibaraki, located northeast of Tokyo, is the third largest producer of agricultural products in Japan and boasts the largest percentage of farmland among all regions. | Ibaraki, located northeast of Tokyo, is the third largest producer of agricultural products in Japan and boasts the largest percentage of farmland among all regions. |
| The prefecture has reported 9,299 cases of the virus, including 140 deaths as of Friday. | The prefecture has reported 9,299 cases of the virus, including 140 deaths as of Friday. |
| Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! | Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! |
| Dear readers and commenters, | |
| We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. | |
| Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments, | |
| RT Team. |