One restaurant fears it won't last three more months

Sales at some businesses in Chinese community down up to 70 per cent

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The operator of a Vancouver Chinese restaurant fears the business won’t last three more months due to misinformation being spread about the COVID-19 outbreak.

Alex Wang is director of the Peninsula Restaurant near Oakridge Centre and said since Chinese New Year, it has had countless cancellations, while business has dropped by 70 per cent, all due to concerns about the virus.

The restaurant has had to cut shifts to make ends meet. Wang said a lunch shift usually has 300 customers, but now sees about 60.

He isn’t sure how much longer the restaurant can remain open.

“I’m trying to work with all the suppliers, with my bank,” he added. “I don’t think I can survive longer than three months.”

“I don’t think I can survive longer” Alex Wang is the director of the peninsula restaurant near Oakridge. He says staff have had to get some shifts cut down to make ends meet. A usual lunch shift could see 300 customers – now he sees about 60. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/wOJviGtTVA — Tarnjit Parmar (@Tarnjitkparmar) February 17, 2020

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu and Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart met Monday in Vancouver with members of the Chinese Canadian community about the effects of the virus.

Hajdu said that she’s heard from many local business owners who feel isolated by misinformation about COVID-19 and that sales have dropped 50 to 70 per cent.

Stewart called for calm amid baseless misinformation being spread in social media and chat groups about the COVID-19 outbreak.

He said there is no safety risk at local Chinese restaurants or businesses.

“Enjoy all the great food and other services that are offered here in Chinatown and other Chinese communities, because, at this stage, we’re considering everything safe,” he added.

“We don’t want these businesses hurt.”

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said a “common understanding of information” around COVID-19 is needed. He added the province is trying to share the best information as quickly and accurately as possible, in several languages.

On Friday, the latest case of COVID-19 in B.C. was announced, bringing the total of those infected in the province to five.

The virus, which emerged in central China in December, has infected more than 71,000 people globally, killing 1,770 patients in mainland China and five others elsewhere.

China has instituted strict lock-down measures on over 60 million people in central Hubei province.

Another 454 people have been infected aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess.

Hajdu expects Canadians aboard that ship near Japan to be brought home “sometime this week.”