Calling the coronavirus the 'Chinese virus' matters – research connects the label with racist bias

Social scientists find that using geography-related names or racialized framing around the coronavirus in even one news story can trigger racist stereotypes and biases.

Brad Bushman, Professor of Communication and Rinehart Chair of Mass Communication, The Ohio State University • conversation
Feb. 18, 2022 • ~6 min

China beat the coronavirus with science and strong public health measures, not just with authoritarianism

As Thanksgiving nears and fear grows in the US, people in China are traveling and enjoying time with family. While some in the US credit China's authoritarian regime, there's more to the story.

Elanah Uretsky, Associate Professor of International and Global Studies, Brandeis University • conversation
Nov. 23, 2020 • ~9 min

Calling COVID-19 a 'Chinese virus' is wrong and dangerous – the pandemic is global

Emphasizing foreign origins of a disease can have racist connotations and implications for how people understand their own risk of disease.

Mari Webel, Assistant Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
March 25, 2020 • ~10 min

How big will the coronavirus epidemic be? An epidemiologist updates his concerns

Initial data from the outbreak in China did not reveal as much information as scientists needed to assess the epidemic. Now, more accurate data suggest an epidemic worse than some previously thought.

Maciej F. Boni, Associate Professor of Biology, Pennsylvania State University • conversation
March 9, 2020 • ~8 min

Naming the new coronavirus – why taking Wuhan out of the picture matters

While identifying a new disease by its place of origin seems intuitive, history shows that doing so can have serious consequences for the people that live there.

Mari Webel, Assistant Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
Feb. 18, 2020 • ~9 min

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