Silence golden for feds

Whatever your thoughts are about COVID-19, don’t reference China when discussing the pandemic.

That’s the advice federal agencies are giving to help limit the spread of aggressive behaviour and minimize social stigma, according to documents obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.

The Treasury Board suggested the origins of the novel coronavirus are irrelevant.

“Don’t blame any age group or people from a specific country, ethnicity or race for the spread of COVID-19,” said a guide on mental health and COVID-19.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety urged employers to be on the lookout for “social stigma and micro-aggression” among their workers. “Micro-aggressions are everyday verbal, non-verbal and environmental snubs or insults that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative messages,” its guidebook said.