By Josh Lee and Max Wang
Once the bustling capital of Hubei province, Wuhan is now almost devoid of life. Workers in hazmat suits move through the empty streets, spraying disinfectant over every surface. Watching from her apartment window, senior Megan Wei’s grandmother wonders when she’ll go outside again.
As the death toll exceeds 2,000, the Chinese government has quarantined Wuhan. Wei’s family, living in the city, updates her daily.
“When it became really serious, it was kind of different for me because other people might not have family in Wuhan,” Wei said. “It’s harder for them to understand the first-person perspective.”
After suffering a stroke, Wei’s grandmother planned to go to the local hospital for therapy, but Wei’s uncle convinced her to stay home for Lunar New Year. The World Health Organization soon declared the coronavirus outbreak as a public health emergency. The two currently reside in her apartment in downtown Wuhan, separated from Wei’s aunt and cousin.
“I feel like the government is taking measures to protect the people that live there,” Wei said. “So, though I am worried, I feel like as long as my family is being responsible, they’ll be okay.”
Facing shortages in disinfectants and face masks, local public health authorities allow only one person per household every three days to buy necessities at local supermarkets. Authorities require communities to have paid security guards to prevent others from leaving on their own. Sanitation workers patrol the streets, spraying them with a bleach and water solution.
When leaving their home, Wei’s uncle wears a raincoat with a face mask and goggles, soaking his coat in warm water and disinfecting his clothes upon return. Their neighbors help Wei’s family by buying supplies.
“It’s nice to see that everyone is still sticking together even though they’re under stress all the time,” Wei said. “Because my grandmother is old and lives alone, it makes me less worried to see others still taking care of her, even though they have their own families to worry about.”
Though not everyone has family at the epicenter of the outbreak, students like senior Natalie Yu have family in Asia. The coronavirus has spread to many countries outside of Wuhan, like Hong Kong, where Yu’s family lives.
“My mother and I were terrified when we heard that the coronavirus had spread to Hong Kong,” Yu said. “We called the rest of the family in Hong Kong, and from what they have told me, Hong Kong citizens are also very scared and worried about how many people this will affect.”
People living in both recently infected countries and in the U.S. have stocked up on masks. As a result, many stores have sold out.
“My sister and I have been staying safe with masks and hand sanitizer that my mother stressed we should use,” Yu said. “My mother is very strict with my safety because I am outside more often for school and my job at Kumon, because she is scared I’ll catch the virus.”
The U.S. Department of State’s travel warning system places China at level four, stressing no one to travel there.
“I don’t think many countries knew how far this would spread,” Yu said. “I’ve only been able to contact my family through phone calls, and Hong Kong is under a mandatory quarantine, so I won’t be able to see them for a while.”
Hong Kong is quarantining incoming Chinese individuals and won’t allow travel in or out of the country until all travelers are tested. This has blocked the transportation of masks.
“My biggest concern is my family’s situation in Hong Kong,” Yu said. “People are trying to stop the transportation of supplies because it risks carrying the virus around. I really want to help my family and people in Hong Kong by delivering spare masks.”