And while there has yet to be reports of racism in Tasmania, local businessman Steven Wang says the Chinese community is feeling particularly vulnerable during this difficult time - and they need the wider community's support and understanding.

"For example, we have seen some Chinese people wearing masks in Sandy Bay. We have observed that some of the locals will look at them strangely," he said.

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"It should be considered positive behaviour for those people wearing masks. We hope that people won't misunderstand that."

The virus does not discriminate. It knows no races. It isn't an Asian virus. And Australians should not treat it as such.

Like SARS, ebola, swine flu, bird flu and countless other zoonotic outbreaks before it, coronavirus is a challenge for all of humankind.

Most Chinese-Australians in Tasmania would have their relatives and friends in China in their thoughts constantly, and those who have been in China recently are taking every precaution possible to ensure the rest of the public is safe.

The last thing they need is the knowledge that when they go out in public, they could become the victim of racism. And racism comes in many forms. Some might have the idea that a coronavirus joke is light-hearted, but the effect it can have is immeasurable.

This is meant to be the peak season for our local Chinese tourism operators, but the travel ban means their income has vanished virtually overnight. This has flow-on effects throughout the Tasmanian economy.

From the tin miners of the late 19th century to the tourism operators of today, the Chinese have revitalised rural Tasmanian towns, created jobs and stimulated economies.

They have a deep love and appreciation for Tasmania. The least we could do is show them our full support.