Worker fearing coronavirus shuns Asian child in mask at Costco, Washington family says

A Washington man says that he, his wife, and his 8-year-old son, who was wearing a surgical mask, were told to step away from a Costco sample stand because the worker feared she would get infected with coronavirus.

Devin Cabanilla of Issaquah told KING 5 the woman working at the sample station, who was not a Costco employee, asked if “they came from China.” She turned them away from the station over concerns of the virus, he said.

“Ugh @costco food sample lady told kid to get away because he may be ‘from China’ and was worrying about getting infected,” Cabanilla tweeted.

Club Demonstration Services, which employs the woman, apologized in a statement, KING 5 reported.

“We extend our sincerest apology to the family that was treated inappropriately,” it read. “We have the greatest respect and appreciation for Costco members and strive to make their shopping experience enjoyable through positive interactions with our team members. We will be providing additional training and information to ensure that we treat everyone with the sensitivity and respect they deserve, and will further educate our staff on the coronavirus to alleviate any fears or misperceptions. People are at the center of what we do, and engaging with customers respectfully as neighbors in our own community is our top priority.”

Cabanilla told Business Insider that he reported the incident to a supervisor and Costco’s CEO. Cabanilla said he wasn’t worried about coronavirus but feared the outberak would lead to people stereotyping Asian Americans. His wife is Korean-American and he is Filipino, Mexican, Chinese, Native, and white.

“One thing that is in the back of my mind is that someone Asian is being judged in public right now,” he said. “In general, people are going to have assumptions or be casually careful around Asian people.”

Five people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the United States so far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The disease has infected more than 7,700 people and killed at least 170 in China, The New York Times reported.

This story was originally published January 30, 2020 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Worker fearing coronavirus shuns Asian child in mask at Costco, Washington family says."