First fight the virus within, stop singling out Hubei residents

A highway service area in Yongfu county of Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, has reportedly demarcated special toilets and special parking areas for drivers with hukou (household registration) from Hubei province, home to most novel coronavirus cases in China.

The move has sparked widespread criticism. The Yongfu Health Commission called these "special measures" for epidemic prevention and control, but many people said this was nothing short of discrimination that seriously undermines the legal rights and interests of Hubei residents.

Since the outbreak, people in Hubei have suffered immensely, both physically and emotionally.

We should be fighting the virus and not the people who have been affected by it.

We should be providing aid and support to the people of Hubei who are fighting the virus, and not treating them unfairly just because they are from Hubei.

There have been more instances of such regional discrimination following the outbreak. Some hotels have turned away people from Hubei province, while others have been forcibly quarantined even if they have not been to Hubei in a long time.

Such practices not only hurt the feelings of Hubei residents, but also undermine the solidarity and harmony in our society.

Regional discrimination is forbidden in a healthy society, especially now when we are fighting the virus. To win the battle against the novel coronavirus through joint efforts, the authorities should crack down on such regional discrimination and help create a healthy social environment.