When I first read the news about the Coronavirus Virus at the end of 2019, I thought that it was too far away from me. Previously, we often heard the news about H1N1 or H5N1. However, we've never seen anyone who is terrified of them and no one was really taking it seriously back then. That's why, many people including myself didn't think that coronavirus would spread that far.

It was Chinese New Year holiday when the wide-ranging warning about the virus was launched, and passenger screening started at the airports and subway stations. This is my third year of working in Beijing. We were supposed to go back to the office on January 31. But so far, officials in the office have allowed staff to work from home to prevent the spread of the virus.

At the beginning, I was a little bit scared as I see everyone wearing masks everywhere and the number of commuters has decreased dramatically. As for meat at the shops nearby, it was out of stock within few days, I bought eggs, drinking water and rice just in case I couldn't buy later. Although I was worried about not having enough food at the nearby shops, I could still buy anything I want. So, I felt so comfortable.

Food stores and restaurants are still opened. Even during this situation, there are no shopkeepers who raise prices of their stocks. I have recently read that some stores that raised the price of masks were fined and shut down by the Beijing municipal government.

Now at my community, only one small gate door is opened that can entered by one person at time. The elderly people in the community takes turn at the gate to help people check in and out as well as body temperature using digital thermometers. Everyone in the community has been given safety measures and health alerts. Strangers will no longer be allowed to enter. In the past, food delivery men sent packages to the doorstep. But at the moment, we have to pick up what we ordered at the gate.

For me, I usually go for a walk to the nearby shops or shopping mall to buy water or food almost every evening. Upon the entry, the guards measure the body temperature using a digital thermometer. I feel really safe and sound as each community is working on preventing the spread using all the necessary measurements.

As for our office, a senior officer at the office created a WeChat group specially to ask about our health and well-being daily. As other related officers and friends at the office share latest news update and necessary information about the virus, I feel like I am being taken care of more than ever.

At the entrance of the subway stations, staff are checking body temperatures. Shopping malls are still open normally. Many shops inside shopping malls are still open. We can still order food online. Except for seeing less crowds than before due to the fair of virus infection, everything runs normally.

Chinese famous celebrities and people from outside China are now supporting people from Wuhan by creating videos or composing songs for them. Those videos can now be seen online. Although Wuhan, which hosts over 11 million people, is the city where the virus started spreading, not all people are infected. Although the city has been locked down for their safety, I've a lot of sympathy for them and I can feel their depression.

Very recently, I read the news about Chinese Premiere Li Keqiang's visit to Wuhan. I'm sure that his visit will be a big encouragement for people in Wuhan.

As for me, although China is not my birthplace, I feel like it's my second home. I am now praying for China to overcome this situation very soon.

Stay strong Wuhan, stay strong China!

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