***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Date: February 10th, 2020

Press Contacts: Carlyn Cowen, Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer (ccowen@cpc-nyc.org | 212.941.0920 x 155)

CPC STATEMENT ON NOVEL CORONAVIRUS

New York, NY -- The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) remains committed to provide quality health services and information to the public during the Novel Coronavirus outbreak. CPC stands against harmful sentiments that target Chinese and other Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) groups.

As news of Novel Coronavirus cases spreads, CPC reminds the public that New Yorkers are statistically more likely to catch the common cold or seasonal flu than contract coronavirus. CPC urges our communities to practice the same personal hygiene and flu prevention strategies that restrict the spread of diseases-- regularly washing hands with soap, covering sneezes and coughs, disinfecting household surfaces and regularly used items, and staying home and avoiding contact with others if sick. Community members interested in enrolling in a health plan or who are looking for health services and programs should visit one of CPC’s three community centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens. 

“New Yorkers must recognize that this is a public health issue, not a racial, ethnic, or immigrant issue. Since the news of Coronavirus has escalated, AAPIs have been hit hard by the dangerous ‘perpetual foreigner’ myth that already hurts our community,” said Wayne Ho, President & CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC). “We have heard stories of community members having strangers isolate them in public spaces, Chinatown restaurants having dinners canceled because of stereotypes about eating habits, and families fearful of bringing children to daycare in Asian American neighborhoods. We have a responsibility to make sure our communities are informed and that we are reducing any bias that our staff or community members experience.”

CPC sites and staff have convened media and local leaders to discuss the impact of Novel Coronavirus fears on low-income, immigrant, and Asian American communities.

“CPC wants to make sure that community members know the best practices to keep immigrant families and all New Yorkers healthy,” said Carlyn Cowen, CPC’s Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer. “CPC is monitoring guidance and announcements from the NYS Department of Health, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will continue to work with local leaders to make sure the right information reaches the public. CPC also recognizes that the best public health strategy is one in which all people have coverage and care, which is why we continue to fight for the expansion of the Essential Plan and the New York Health Act.”

About CPC
The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) is the nation's largest Asian American social services organization. Founded in 1965, CPC aims to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities of New York City.

華人策劃協會(華策會)是全美國最大的亞裔美國人及太平洋島民社區服務機構.成立於1965年,華策會專門為紐約市的華裔美國人,移民,和低收入民眾提供金融權力和社區服務.