New Jersey chiropractor criticized for posting sign referring to ‘Chinese Virus’

A New Jersey chiropractor is being criticized for posting a sign referring to the coronavirus as the “Chinese Virus,” with critics labeling the move as racist. 

Annesia Paraison posted a photo of the sign to Facebook on Tuesday after visiting the Jersey City office belonging to Kevin Julian.

Paraison’s 17-year-old daughter Nala was scheduled for her first appointment, but Nala pointed out the sign after they walked inside. 

The sign, according to the picture, directed a message to patients, saying, “During this time period of the Chinese Virus, please observe the six (6) foot rule of social distancing. Only two (2) people should be waiting in the reception room.”

Paraison and her daughter, who are Black, considered the sign to be racist and subsequently left the office. 

“This sign does not mention Coronavirus or Covid 19, but instead calls it the Chinese Virus,” Paraison said in her Facebook post. “THIS IS BLATANT RACISM. My daughter did not have to think about it, she was ready to leave and of course I supported this.”

“We didn’t even wait to speak with staff, because  there was no need as we would never put our health in the hands of racists,” she added. “If a medical professional could display such an obvious racist statement, then I fear for any person of color that receives treatment there.”

Paraison told NBC News that when she asked her daughter why she wanted to leave, Nala said, “If the doctor can be that bold, there’s no way I would feel comfortable.”

Paraison told the network that she posted the photo to spread awareness, saying “I feel we have to call these things out because unfortunately, the political climate and the president has made people feel very comfortable expressing racism.” 

Julian declined to comment to The Hill on the sign.

The Jersey City Women of Color Instagram account shared the photo, which sparked outrage among commenters. 

The World Health Organization has recommended against using the phrase “Chinese virus” or geographic locations when identifying diseases saying “it has had unintended negative impacts by stigmatizing certain communities or economic sectors.”

But President Trump has repeatedly used the term when discussing the pandemic. He has said that because the virus is believed to have originated in China, it is not a racist phrase. Trump has blamed China for the spread of the virus, saying Beijing did not do enough to stop its spread and that it lacked transparency.