The spread of COVID-19 has caused a lot of tension worldwide, as everyone scrambles to contain the fast-growing pandemic. Over in the US, things are getting even more heated, with some citizens stocking up on not only groceries, but guns too.

A statement made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, on March 16, has ruffled the feathers of many people as well. In his speech addressing the anti-pandemic measures the US will be implementing, he referred to COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus”. And the POTUS has continued to use that term, insisting that it's not racist.

While he is not the first person to ignore the coronavirus’ official name (Hongkong actor Anthony Wong had previously ranted about the name ‘COVID-19’ as well), Donald Trump’s branding of the disease as a 'Chinese virus' has a far more dangerous impact.

Ex-TVB actress Fala Chen, who holds American citizenship and is currently based in the US, was one of the many people who took to their socials to share their anger at Trump’s choice of words.

Why does he have even the energy to make up s**t like that, when we have so much to deal with and to heal from!?!?!? (sic) This is intentional,” she wrote on an Instagram Story. She also posted an image of the President’s quote along with the hashtag “racist”.

Her comment launched a heated discussion among netizens, with a Hongkong columnist wading into the fray and commenting that it was 'international practice” to refer to viruses by their country of origin. The columnist also shaded Fala by writing, “You should renounce your American citizenship then, and show how much you love your country with your actions, [not just your words].”

Fala’s Instagram posts were then bombarded with comments from netizens who agree that there is nothing wrong with the term “Chinese virus” and “Wuhan virus”.

Yesterday (Mar 19), Fala posted a passage from the book, How to Train a Wild Elephant: And Other Adventures in Mindfulness by Jan Chozen Bays on her Instagram feed. The passage questioned why people tend to vigorously defend their own point-of-views, refusing to accept other opinions that might differ from theirs, and shared a couple of reasons behind this issue.

This time round, the comments function was disabled. In her caption, she thanked American actress Logan Browning for sharing with her this particular passage.

“Thanks Logan for sharing this passage and guiding me through the meditation tonight. Sending thoughts of peace, love, and good health to you all,” she wrote.

Photos: PBE Media, Fala Chen/Instagram, Anthony Wong/Facebook