Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Prato (Fides Service) – “With regard to the SARS virus, the situation of the Chinese community in Prato (near Florence) is calm” Fr Giovanni, PIME missionary tells Fides. Fr Giovanni works in Prato assisting the large Chinese community here providing spiritual assistance and also in social matters in collaboration with the local Caritas. This community is the largest in Italy. Father Giovanni explains: “In Prato there are 18,000 Chinese immigrants working in the local textile industries. Most of them come from the Zhejiang province. During recent meetings to verify the situation with regard to the SARS virus, immigrants voiced concern for the situation in China. However with regard to the situation in Prato they are not worried. No cases have been registered locally. On May 3 the local health authorities called a meeting with representatives of the Chinese community to discuss measures of prevention.”
Father Giovanni says that life continues as usual in Prato. There is no discrimination against the Chinese community on the part of the local people for fear of contagion.: “Everyday life, work and peaceful co-existence between the Chinese community and the local people proceeds as usual: there is absolutely no discrimination”. There could be concern about underground immigration, which escapes customs and health control. “However precisely because of SARS, clandestine immigration has diminished considerably – Father Giovanni concludes – due to much stricter control at borders in China and in Europe.” SL (Fides Service 6/5/2003 EM lines 21 Words: 243)
