Exclusive: The Lives of Indians in Zhejiang amid the COVID-19 pandemic

2020-05-25 02:26:00 source: Feng Siyuan


Atanu Das and Shrey San are Indians residing in Zhejiang, China. Atanu Das is a post-doctoral research associate at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, and Shrey San runs a trade business in Ningbo. Both are staying in Zhejiang during the COVID-19 pandemic in China and share the same unforgettable experiences with other Chinese people in the area. 

 

They were interviewed online by In Zhejiang on April 2, 2020. At the time Das was in Hangzhou and San was in Ningbo.

 

Many people were shocked or felt uneasy about the uncertain epidemic situation outlook when Wuhan enforced a lockdown, and Zhejiang followed with a high-level emergency public health alert announcement on Jan. 23, 2020.

  

What was your first response or thought when you heard about the coronavirus outbreak in China?

  

Shrey San: I remembered being very surprised and shocked to learn about this “mysterious” virus, and he had never experienced a pandemic outbreak before. Many of his friends started to inform each other about the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

Atanu Das: On January 20th, my friend sent me a WeChat message about a disease outbreak, and I should be careful and wear a mask because one COVID-19 case was reported in Hangzhou.

 

 I quickly went to my computer and searched for related English newspaper reports about the latest situation, including from Global times, CGTN, and SCMP. I tried buying a few masks from the nearest supermarket, but they were no longer available. Luckily I found a box of 10 surgical masks in my drawer that I had bought a few months back.

 

I immediately restricted myself from going out before the Hangzhou local government made any announcements. I told my wife and kid about the COVID-19 outbreak and asked them to restrict themselves from leaving the house too. I did not get any emergency relief materials because we already bought a few necessities before the upcoming Chinese New Year. I tried to read all the latest news reports and follow the World Health Organization (WHO) personal safety guidelines for going out in public to buy daily necessities including water, milk, and other items. I remember, initially, I only went out once every six to seven days.

 

Indians Impressed by Creative Health Code and People Taking Anti-Epidemic Measurements Effectively 

 

Atanu Das: The creative Health QR Code introduced by technology giant Alibaba, which is headquartered in Hangzhou and owned by Jack Ma, was later followed by all major cities and provinces in China. I love to listen to Ma’s inspirational videos. The coherent implementation and integration of big data, AI, and information technology to analyze peoples’ information, including their recent activities and travel history was merged with the Hangzhou Center of Disease Control and Prevention health database. I think the introduction of the health code is a game-changer and eases people’s lives.

 

I was advised to stay home. I received multiple messages to stay home from my university and laboratory assistant. I received several phone calls from the nearby police station to query about my recent travel history and my health conditions.

 

Just a few days after the epidemic broke out in our Zheda Quishi Village, the village management began to restrict incoming traffic to the campus and blocked all entry and exit gates except for one to effectively control the flow of people. They introduced a coupon for people who lived on the campus, which only permitted one household per building to leave the village to buy daily necessities every two days.

 

In Ningbo, another city in Zhejiang, Shrey was impressed by people responsibly self-quarantining, social distancing, and saving lives. He was also impressed by how local communities organized people “to check and immediately implement anti-COVID-19 preventive measures to control the spread of COVID19.”

 

Do you know anything about epidemic response policies in Hangzhou? What’s your opinion about it? And how did you learn about those policies? Did the policies impact your daily life or work?

 

Atanu Das: The Hangzhou government implemented epidemic response policies at the start of the outbreak to track down affected individuals, apartments, houses, communities, organizations, public facilities, and city management. I was really impressed with their policies that proved to be very effective when zero cases were reported one day.

 

I remember receiving a text message from the Hangzhou government that it implemented an Emergency Level 1 on January 23rd. I followed a few WeChat groups, Hangzhou Tube, and others for daily updates about the situation in Hangzhou and Zhejiang province. It was really convenient.

 

I agree with all the government policies for epidemic control and prevention. I was advised to stay at home and work from home. It hardly had any impact on my daily life and work as an individual.

 

Stories that Happened During the COVID-19 Epidemic in Zhejiang

 

Atanu Das: Facial masks were scarce everywhere during the beginning of the epidemic. At the time, my adviser prepared some masks for group members who were still in Hangzhou. He even prepared some children masks for my son in case I needed it. One of my Chinese friends also gave me masks. I was really impressed by their assistance in a crisis where most people only care for themselves. 


My four-year-old son now knows viruses are dangerous from watching recent news about the outbreak. I showed him how front line doctors and nurses were fighting the virus 24/7. He started to say: “Papa fights the virus, mama fights the virus, and Arka (his name) fights the virus.” He stayed at home for 55 to 56 days and only left our apartment recently to play ball. These are a few stories I’d like to share with you.  

 

Volunteering in Zhejiang to Help Others Fight Against COVID-19

 

Shrey San: Since the abrupt COVID-19 outbreak, many foreigners have to stay in Zhejiang for a certain period. Some of them are not fluent in Chinese, which can be difficult for them to make a living during these extreme times in China. As an Indian living in Zhejiang for more than five years, I decided to offer language translation services voluntarily to help these foreigners communicate with local Chinese people, which benefited both Chinese people and foreigners. 

 

How about your life goes back to normal?

 

Atanu Das: Zhejiang University introduced a unique blue code for faculty and staff to access the campus, which requires several verifications and approvals from a higher authority. Since I already have a green health code in Hangzhou, I can easily get a blue code to enter the campus. 

 

Only a few of my colleagues also returned to work at the laboratory and we all wear a mask, which is very different from before. The campus is very empty since there are almost no students on campus. I’m still extra cautious and carry 75% alcohol disinfectant spray, wear masks and gloves when commuting to the laboratory every day, and even disinfect clothing worn outside after returning home. Even after the Hangzhou Government downgraded the emergency level to Level 3, and advised the public not to wear a mask in some cases, I still think wearing a mask and following good hand hygiene practices is important for everyone’s daily health.  

 

Shrey San: There are lots of changes during the epidemic and no one wants to order our products anymore because of the spread of COVID-19. 

 

Things Gained and Lost During the Epidemic


During the epidemic, people were asked to home quarantine. Although this can be boring for some people, it also allows people to spend precious time with their beloved family. 

 

Atanu Das: Home quarantine presented a rare opportunity to spend quality time with my kids and wife which generally is absent during the normal workweek.

 

Besides, people get to learn more about protecting ourselves and taking care of other people’s needs. People have learned about the importance of sanitation and hand hygiene to prevent virus or bacteria infection which we paid less attention to before the epidemic.

 

Opinions on Indian Prime Minister Modi’s 21-day Lockdown Policy to Fight COVID19

 

Atanu Das: I am following the situation of COVID-19 in India mainly through reliable news resources. I know the central government implemented a 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. But it is too early to say anything about the lockdown effect. The country is too diverse in all aspects including political parties, religions, opinions, and the large wealth gap. So the outcome of such a lockdown will be very different than the lockdown implemented in China that has proved to be successful in containing the spread of the virus except for a few daily imported cases recently.

 

Opinions About Global Infectious Diseases and Future Plans 

 

Atanu Das: I am well aware of the recent outbreak of global infectious diseases. Before the recent COVID-19, there was SARS, MERS, EBOLA, and Nipah virus outbreaks. Although all these viruses originated in different countries and spread to other countries, they never evolved from an epidemic to a pandemic. I have read a lot of articles published recently about SARS COV-2 and COVID-19. The pathogen is highly contagious. The incubation period is on average 5-days and as high as 14-days in most cases. People infected by this virus can potentially infect others during the early incubation period and an infection chain reaction continues exponentially. Early detection, isolation, and finding close contacts of those infected are the only way to stop the virus spread. A few days ago, I heard some famous front line Beijing doctors say: “Test, Test, and Test.” Testing is the only way to slow down the spread of the virus by isolating infected people and tracing infected patients close contacts.

 

Since there are no methods to contain COVID-19 to a specific region or country, it has evolved from an epidemic to a global pandemic. This greatly affects everyone's’ daily life in terms of travel, study, business, and others. I plan to find a job and stay in Hangzhou for a longer period after my postdoctoral contract expires. Currently, China is one of the fastest developing places in the world, therefore I have to work diligently to realize my dream of staying in the beautiful city of Hangzhou.

   

Memorable Moments in Zhejiang 


Atanu Das: I did not take any photos during the epidemic to keep time spent outdoors brief since I was afraid of contracting the virus. But I remember taking some beautiful photos in Wuhan before it became the epicenter of the outbreak. I felt very touched when so many Chinese doctors went to support Wuhan. I truly feel spring has finally arrived in China.

 

Finally, I want to express some of my thoughts through this Dr. William N. Brown quote: “I feel very proud to be in China as an Indian national.

 

"If you understand the spirit of ancient China and why foreigners have such great respect for both China's government and people, you'll also understand why Chinese today are able to tackle such formidable foes -- poverty, hunger and the borderless battle with the coronavirus," Dr. William N. Brown. [Professor Brown, from the United States]


(Compiled by Feng Siyuan)

read more

11954582 Exclusive: The Lives of Indians in Zhejiang amid the COVID-19 pandemic public html

Atanu Das and Shrey San are Indians residing in Zhejiang, China. Atanu Das is a post-doctoral research associate at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, and Shrey San runs a trade business in Ningbo. Both are staying in Zhejiang during the COVID-19 pandemic in China and share the same unforgettable experiences with other Chinese people in the area. 

 

They were interviewed online by In Zhejiang on April 2, 2020. At the time Das was in Hangzhou and San was in Ningbo.

 

Many people were shocked or felt uneasy about the uncertain epidemic situation outlook when Wuhan enforced a lockdown, and Zhejiang followed with a high-level emergency public health alert announcement on Jan. 23, 2020.

  

What was your first response or thought when you heard about the coronavirus outbreak in China?

  

Shrey San: I remembered being very surprised and shocked to learn about this “mysterious” virus, and he had never experienced a pandemic outbreak before. Many of his friends started to inform each other about the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

Atanu Das: On January 20th, my friend sent me a WeChat message about a disease outbreak, and I should be careful and wear a mask because one COVID-19 case was reported in Hangzhou.

 

 I quickly went to my computer and searched for related English newspaper reports about the latest situation, including from Global times, CGTN, and SCMP. I tried buying a few masks from the nearest supermarket, but they were no longer available. Luckily I found a box of 10 surgical masks in my drawer that I had bought a few months back.

 

I immediately restricted myself from going out before the Hangzhou local government made any announcements. I told my wife and kid about the COVID-19 outbreak and asked them to restrict themselves from leaving the house too. I did not get any emergency relief materials because we already bought a few necessities before the upcoming Chinese New Year. I tried to read all the latest news reports and follow the World Health Organization (WHO) personal safety guidelines for going out in public to buy daily necessities including water, milk, and other items. I remember, initially, I only went out once every six to seven days.

 

Indians Impressed by Creative Health Code and People Taking Anti-Epidemic Measurements Effectively 

 

Atanu Das: The creative Health QR Code introduced by technology giant Alibaba, which is headquartered in Hangzhou and owned by Jack Ma, was later followed by all major cities and provinces in China. I love to listen to Ma’s inspirational videos. The coherent implementation and integration of big data, AI, and information technology to analyze peoples’ information, including their recent activities and travel history was merged with the Hangzhou Center of Disease Control and Prevention health database. I think the introduction of the health code is a game-changer and eases people’s lives.

 

I was advised to stay home. I received multiple messages to stay home from my university and laboratory assistant. I received several phone calls from the nearby police station to query about my recent travel history and my health conditions.

 

Just a few days after the epidemic broke out in our Zheda Quishi Village, the village management began to restrict incoming traffic to the campus and blocked all entry and exit gates except for one to effectively control the flow of people. They introduced a coupon for people who lived on the campus, which only permitted one household per building to leave the village to buy daily necessities every two days.

 

In Ningbo, another city in Zhejiang, Shrey was impressed by people responsibly self-quarantining, social distancing, and saving lives. He was also impressed by how local communities organized people “to check and immediately implement anti-COVID-19 preventive measures to control the spread of COVID19.”

 

Do you know anything about epidemic response policies in Hangzhou? What’s your opinion about it? And how did you learn about those policies? Did the policies impact your daily life or work?

 

Atanu Das: The Hangzhou government implemented epidemic response policies at the start of the outbreak to track down affected individuals, apartments, houses, communities, organizations, public facilities, and city management. I was really impressed with their policies that proved to be very effective when zero cases were reported one day.

 

I remember receiving a text message from the Hangzhou government that it implemented an Emergency Level 1 on January 23rd. I followed a few WeChat groups, Hangzhou Tube, and others for daily updates about the situation in Hangzhou and Zhejiang province. It was really convenient.

 

I agree with all the government policies for epidemic control and prevention. I was advised to stay at home and work from home. It hardly had any impact on my daily life and work as an individual.

 

Stories that Happened During the COVID-19 Epidemic in Zhejiang

 

Atanu Das: Facial masks were scarce everywhere during the beginning of the epidemic. At the time, my adviser prepared some masks for group members who were still in Hangzhou. He even prepared some children masks for my son in case I needed it. One of my Chinese friends also gave me masks. I was really impressed by their assistance in a crisis where most people only care for themselves. 


My four-year-old son now knows viruses are dangerous from watching recent news about the outbreak. I showed him how front line doctors and nurses were fighting the virus 24/7. He started to say: “Papa fights the virus, mama fights the virus, and Arka (his name) fights the virus.” He stayed at home for 55 to 56 days and only left our apartment recently to play ball. These are a few stories I’d like to share with you.  

 

Volunteering in Zhejiang to Help Others Fight Against COVID-19

 

Shrey San: Since the abrupt COVID-19 outbreak, many foreigners have to stay in Zhejiang for a certain period. Some of them are not fluent in Chinese, which can be difficult for them to make a living during these extreme times in China. As an Indian living in Zhejiang for more than five years, I decided to offer language translation services voluntarily to help these foreigners communicate with local Chinese people, which benefited both Chinese people and foreigners. 

 

How about your life goes back to normal?

 

Atanu Das: Zhejiang University introduced a unique blue code for faculty and staff to access the campus, which requires several verifications and approvals from a higher authority. Since I already have a green health code in Hangzhou, I can easily get a blue code to enter the campus. 

 

Only a few of my colleagues also returned to work at the laboratory and we all wear a mask, which is very different from before. The campus is very empty since there are almost no students on campus. I’m still extra cautious and carry 75% alcohol disinfectant spray, wear masks and gloves when commuting to the laboratory every day, and even disinfect clothing worn outside after returning home. Even after the Hangzhou Government downgraded the emergency level to Level 3, and advised the public not to wear a mask in some cases, I still think wearing a mask and following good hand hygiene practices is important for everyone’s daily health.  

 

Shrey San: There are lots of changes during the epidemic and no one wants to order our products anymore because of the spread of COVID-19. 

 

Things Gained and Lost During the Epidemic


During the epidemic, people were asked to home quarantine. Although this can be boring for some people, it also allows people to spend precious time with their beloved family. 

 

Atanu Das: Home quarantine presented a rare opportunity to spend quality time with my kids and wife which generally is absent during the normal workweek.

 

Besides, people get to learn more about protecting ourselves and taking care of other people’s needs. People have learned about the importance of sanitation and hand hygiene to prevent virus or bacteria infection which we paid less attention to before the epidemic.

 

Opinions on Indian Prime Minister Modi’s 21-day Lockdown Policy to Fight COVID19

 

Atanu Das: I am following the situation of COVID-19 in India mainly through reliable news resources. I know the central government implemented a 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. But it is too early to say anything about the lockdown effect. The country is too diverse in all aspects including political parties, religions, opinions, and the large wealth gap. So the outcome of such a lockdown will be very different than the lockdown implemented in China that has proved to be successful in containing the spread of the virus except for a few daily imported cases recently.

 

Opinions About Global Infectious Diseases and Future Plans 

 

Atanu Das: I am well aware of the recent outbreak of global infectious diseases. Before the recent COVID-19, there was SARS, MERS, EBOLA, and Nipah virus outbreaks. Although all these viruses originated in different countries and spread to other countries, they never evolved from an epidemic to a pandemic. I have read a lot of articles published recently about SARS COV-2 and COVID-19. The pathogen is highly contagious. The incubation period is on average 5-days and as high as 14-days in most cases. People infected by this virus can potentially infect others during the early incubation period and an infection chain reaction continues exponentially. Early detection, isolation, and finding close contacts of those infected are the only way to stop the virus spread. A few days ago, I heard some famous front line Beijing doctors say: “Test, Test, and Test.” Testing is the only way to slow down the spread of the virus by isolating infected people and tracing infected patients close contacts.

 

Since there are no methods to contain COVID-19 to a specific region or country, it has evolved from an epidemic to a global pandemic. This greatly affects everyone's’ daily life in terms of travel, study, business, and others. I plan to find a job and stay in Hangzhou for a longer period after my postdoctoral contract expires. Currently, China is one of the fastest developing places in the world, therefore I have to work diligently to realize my dream of staying in the beautiful city of Hangzhou.

   

Memorable Moments in Zhejiang 


Atanu Das: I did not take any photos during the epidemic to keep time spent outdoors brief since I was afraid of contracting the virus. But I remember taking some beautiful photos in Wuhan before it became the epicenter of the outbreak. I felt very touched when so many Chinese doctors went to support Wuhan. I truly feel spring has finally arrived in China.

 

Finally, I want to express some of my thoughts through this Dr. William N. Brown quote: “I feel very proud to be in China as an Indian national.

 

"If you understand the spirit of ancient China and why foreigners have such great respect for both China's government and people, you'll also understand why Chinese today are able to tackle such formidable foes -- poverty, hunger and the borderless battle with the coronavirus," Dr. William N. Brown. [Professor Brown, from the United States]


(Compiled by Feng Siyuan)

]]>
people;Hangzhou;Zhejiang;epidemic;outbreak;Code;virus;mask;Impressed;Indians