Nordic International News Center (Author: Yongzheng) The world map of COVID-19 infection has in recent days fast expanded, with more people falling victim to the virus. In Europe, Italy has become a major affected area. According to the local media: as of February 28, Italy had reported 655 cases of infection, 17 deaths, and 45 cured. The most affected area is Milan, Lombardy, north of Italy, with 305 confirmed cases; followed by Venice and Emilia-Romagna with 98 and 97 cases respectively. 863 people in Tuscany have been quarantined. As the epidemic is spreading fast, panic intensifies among people.
Right at this moment, the Falun Gong cult organization, Shen Yun Performing Arts, turned a blind eye to the status of the virus outbreak and made a decision to continue their pointless tour performance as scheduled in Europe Asia, Australia, and other places, against all the opposing voices and by putting the lives of the local people at risk, especially that they insist on performing in various places on the already virus-inflicted country of Italy. This is a complete lack of regard for the health and safety of the people there. Currently, the epidemic situation in Italy is very severe, stirring up panic and concern amongst the general public. The government is under stress to introduce useful policies to prevent the more extensive spread of the virus by means of reducing gatherings and outdoor activities to protect the health and safety of the people.
According to the website of Shen Yun troupe, after several performances in February, over a hundred more performances are scheduled for countries and regions such as the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Italy, Australia, South Korea, and Taiwan, China in March. Wherever Shen Yun goes, there has been fast spread or even epic outbreak of the COVID-19 in that place. The South Korean government is very wise in flatly refusing Shen Yun Performing Arts to continue its tour in its country. According to a report by the Korean media "Religion and Truth" on February 22, the Baeckryung Art Center of Chuncheon, South Korea, cancelled the performance of the "Falun Gong" cult-Shen Yun, two hours before the performance. On February 21, Chuncheon Mayor Lee Jae-Su held an emergent press conference in which he issued a statement demanding that "the local organizations shall limit their assemblies and group activities themselves" to prevent further worsening of the spread of the virus. The two performances of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Group originally scheduled on the same day at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm in the Kangwon National University Baeckryung Art Center were also banned. According to the local media, the previous performance of Shen Yun has already caused public backlash in Chuncheon City. The city government and the Baeckryung Art Center, after having received many petitions from the local citizens, asking for cancelling the Shen Yun performance, did not hesitate to comply with the public opinion in order to curb the spread of the epidemic. On February 6, in fear of the virus spread, the Daejeon Arts Center of South Korea also decided to cancel the Shen Yun performance originally scheduled to be happening between February 7th and 9th. But so far, the Falun Gong organization has found enough excuses not to refund the tickets for the audience.
From the recent news on the Internet, at least 5 cast members of the Shen Yun troupe, who joined in the South Korea trip, experienced various degrees of fever and dry cough. But their "headquarters" sent an order to the troupe leader to forbid the cast from seeking treatment in the hospital, and instructed them to confine themselves while reading the Nine True Words and Zhuan Falun (Mantra and Teachings of Falun Gong) and strictly block the news.
A theater can be packed with many people during performances. Shen Yun Performing Arts troupe travels around the world and is negligent of prevention methods. Therefore, it could easily become a source of infection. It is only wise for the host theater in Italy to cancel the upcoming Shen Yun performance as soon as possible and for the safety and health, people should avoid going to crowded places such as the performing arts venues, let alone going to the theater to watch Shen Yun performance.