March 12, 2020, 11:50 AM
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As Covid-19 cases continue to spike all over the world since the outbreak first began in China, some have come to associate Asian people with the virus.
One incident in particular, involving a bunch of high school kids in Belgium, has drawn flak for it.
"Corona time"
The photo, originally uploaded by the Sin-Paulus Campus College Waregem website, showed 19 students dressed in what appears to be 'traditional Chinese' costumes.
With the exception of two students, who were dressed as pandas.
Here it is:
Rui Jun Luong/FB
The girls were dressed in a black and gold robe, while the boys wore a red frog-button shirts with black pants.
Many can also be seen wearing conical straw hats with their outfits, which are stereotypically associated with Asian farmers.
The students held up a sign that said "Corona time", with one donning blue latex gloves and a face mask.
Another girl in the photo could be seen doing the slant-eye gesture.
Rui Jun Luong/FB
The photo was apparently uploaded to their school website and social platforms before being taken down.
But the damage had already been done, as the photo drew criticism after being widely shared on social media platforms.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9kMkOBJwvZ/
School has apologised
Nextshark reported that this post was reportedly planned by senior students who had chosen a "Chinese theme" to celebrate their last 100 days in school -- a yearly tradition.
It was a coincidence that it was during the same period that China saw the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. And so, the students added the sign and face masks given that context.
According to a Dutch newspaper, the campus director issued a statement apologising for the incident on Wednesday (March 11).
He also added that the school management and students did not intend to hurt anyone with that photo.
"We did not estimate the consequences of publishing this picture correctly and we regret having offended certain population groups by it."
Top photo via FB/Rui Jun Luong
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