Staten Island Chinese restaurant owners say coronavirus fears hurting business

China Chalet

An employee at China Chalet in Eltingville said he’s seen a dip in sales of about 30% in the past few weeks, due to coronavirus fears. “We’ve lost business, but there’s nothing to be afraid of,’’ he told the Advance. (Staten Island Advance)staten island advance

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Several Staten Island Chinese restaurants have experienced an unusual drop in business in recent weeks -- likely the result of an overreaction to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, restaurant employees have told the Advance.

The trend has been affecting Chinese-run businesses in other U.S. cities, as well, and has been reported to media outlets by restaurant owners in Washington, D.C., and in other cities from San Francisco to New York.

On Staten Island, several Chinese restaurants have reported slowing business since the end of January, with many reporting a sales drop of 30% in the past few weeks.

They said the fears are unwarranted since the business is a grueling one, demanding long hours and providing little time for owners and employees to travel anywhere, including China, where more than 77,000 cases have been reported and the death toll has risen to 2,663.

“Nobody goes to China,’’ said an employee of China Chalet in Eltingville, who added he’s seen a dip in sales of about 30% in the past few weeks. “We’ve lost business, but there’s nothing to be afraid of.’’

Philip Wong, who manages the China Chalet’s lower Manhattan site, acknowledged slowing sales at both locations, but stressed that fears of employees carrying the virus are unwarranted.

“The staff is here in the U.S.,’’ he said. “Nobody is going to China. And even if they do, we (would) make them stop work for two or three weeks.’’

Wong said the restaurants’ owners have lived in the United States for more than 40 years and have operated China Chalet in Eltingville for more than 20 years.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk of contracting the COVID-19 in the United States remains very low, and the stigma affecting Chinese communities is present, but unwarranted.

The CDC said the number of cases of coronavirus in the United States has jumped to 57, which includes three people repatriated from China and 40 cases from the Diamond Princess Cruise ship.

The virus is spread mainly from person-to-person, via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes within six feet of another. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching his or her own mouth, nose, or possibly eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, according to the CDC.

“People -- including those of Asian descent -- who have not recently traveled to China or been in contact with a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 are not at greater risk of acquiring and spreading COVID-19 than other Americans,’’ the CDC says on its website, under the heading “Stigma related to COVID-19.”

People who have returned from China more than 14 days ago and do not have symptoms are not infected with the virus and contact with them is safe, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of the virus include cough, fever and shortness of breath.

Additionally, the U.S. government has taken unprecedented steps related to travel in response to the growing health threat, including suspending entry to those who have visited China within the past 14 days. Testing is taking place among U.S. residents and family members of citizens who have returned from affected areas of the world, as well.

At Hong Kong Kei One, in Great Kills, business usually booms in the winter months, then slows a bit around Easter, according to its manager, May Chan.

Not so this year, she said.

“It’s dropped,’’ she said, echoing the sentiments of one of her delivery drivers, Adrienne Fernandes, who wrote a letter to the Advance encouraging Staten Islanders not to fear Chinese restaurants.

Both Chan and Fernandes said staff -- and especially owners -- at Hon Kong Kei One are very hard-working people, and haven’t taken any time off to visit China.

“People get nervous,’’ Chan said. “But we don’t go on vacation in China. We always stay here. They’re working so hard. They haven’t taken a vacation, or even one day off.’’

Stigma against the Chinese community hurts everyone, the CDC says, by creating more fear or anger toward ordinary people -- instead of the disease that is causing the problem.

“Viruses cannot target people from specific populations, ethnicities, or racial backgrounds,’’ the CDC says, urging people to raise awareness about COVID-19 and how the virus does and does not spread.

At Jade Island in New Springville, business has dropped by about 20% in the past two months, according to an employee who answered the phone there. Since the restaurant has been in business at that location for decades, high numbers of steady customers have stayed true, he said.

Wong said he is confident business will improve once people become more informed.

“It’s OK,’’ he said. “I’m not worried about anything. We are so far good. I wouldn’t go to China at this time, but in New York we are good.’’

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