SAN GABRIEL, Calif. – Over the past two weeks, San Gabriel City Councilman Chin Ho Liao has been busy attending a dozen Lunar New Year events with his constituents.

But on Tuesday, Liao was on WeChat, politely declining invitations and clearing his schedule amid Coronavirus fears.

“I probably have another dozen events, the majority [I will] just cancel,” Liao said as he skimmed messages.

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Although there have only been two cases in Southern California, he says the local Chinese community is in no mood to celebrate.

At the nearby Home Depot in Rosemead, customers had emptied the shelves of respiratory masks. The employees at a nearby Chinese grocery store all wore them. The city’s website calls this area “Chinese Disneyland.”

A couple wearing masks walked their dog down the street. The man said he had just flown back from China, but no one at the airport had taken his temperature.

Amid concerns the virus could spread here, Liao said some groups have already canceled Lunar New Year celebrations. He is encouraging those still happening to have thermometers to screen attendees at the door.

Otherwise, he will be staying home.