In the difficult and complicated circumstances that China is currently undergoing, the reactions of foreign residents there vary. Some rushed to leave the country for fear of the "Corona" virus, which raises alarm in the world and not only China, while few preferred to stay and face the danger courageously, for various reasons, including their affection in the place. And in the following lines, the journalist, Mohammed Mazen, who lives in Beijing, gives details of what is happening on the ground, and how the people and the government face the horror of Corona.
"Sorry, my father ... Sorry, my mother, I will not leave China at the present time." I decided for two main reasons, firstly because he believed that he would only infect us with what God has for us, and secondly, trust in China, the government and the people, to defeat the dreaded Corona virus, and under them other reasons, Including: What has not caused the concern yet, has not yet happened to motivate me to return.
As a foreigner and expatriate, you may feel that the time is not right to stay, and that it is better to run into your skin, but in addition to safety (at least feeling) is a moral issue before it is healthy, in wartime the best decision is confrontation, synergy and positioning on the front, not withdrawal.
In Beijing, where I work and reside, the spread of Corona has not reached the state in Wuhan. Yes, life is not as usual, the streets seem almost empty, and most commercial centers are closed and entertainment places are closed, but it cannot be said that it is a ghost town, as Wuhan was not a ghost city, because the description that was used a lot in different media was not accurate, because it carries the meaning of surrender For a nation that has never known it throughout its history, China has not been defeated by SARS, and it will not be defeated before the New Corona as well.
In fact, this is not only a belief, but he trusts everyone here from the highest official to the youngest worker. Currently, the people here are only living their lives differently, nothing more, nothing less. The new situation imposed on them for a while.
By virtue of their existence 10 years ago, the Chinese know how to position themselves in the right place and time to cope with the epidemic. Everyone plays his role, but in an organized and responsible manner, not by fear of Corona, who took 425 souls in his path, and afflicted more than 20 thousand to these lines, but a sense of responsibility, the responsibility of each person towards himself and the other, nation, nation, society and planet.
As a result, do not go away, take a look at the recorded number of the virus spreading abroad. A number that is negligible, compared to the numbers inside.
A week ago from now, the Beijing government issued a health bulletin for expatriates, and called on institutions and companies to work from their homes. Adhering to the house is a very important part of the plan to win the battle.
Medical teams are deployed on the front lines, and government teams provide supplies. This is the case. People here only go out to buy the necessary supplies, food is available, preventive medical supplies and medicines are available all the time.
There are medical teams standing at the doors of residential compounds that measure the temperature of the residents, and another popular volunteer who checks the identity of strangers and makes recommendations, there are teams floating around the apartments and providing instructions and give emergency numbers, in case one felt something unusual, and another confirms adherence to disease prevention measures, Wear masks, wash hands after return, drink water regularly, and more.
Technology is also fighting
What is happening on applications and technology is something else, besides the fifth generation on the front, drones equipped with cameras used by the police in the streets, to alert people who have forgotten to wear masks, or to ask the elderly to stop playing dominoes or cards on the streets and go home. These planes transfer pictures of street conditions to observation rooms, and accordingly, police officers issue instructions from their closed locations.
On the Wechat application and other social media platforms, schools and universities conduct surveys on students twice daily, conveying directions and instructions to them, and asking whether there are developments or plans to travel, or if family members or friends were injured.
Who lives in China is noticing the state of panic and exaggeration in the outside world about the virus. There are voices of exaggeration, experts and doctors and people who do not understand overlooking screens and sites, countries that have stopped flights and others that have closed the borders.
Sure, this is understandable as a preventive measure, and the Chinese government understands that, but there are those who bypass the WHO declaration and impose incomprehensible measures, also with incomprehensible motives.
There are countries that have imposed a ban on all Chinese entering their territories, and others that have banned foreigners who have traveled to China during the past 14 days, in inhumane decisions. Criticism of China's response to the virus is acceptable inside and outside China, and the reality on the ground says that China's response to the epidemic is strong enough.
Strong response and orderly attitude
A look back, China has taken some incredible measures and implemented them quickly. Millions were isolated in cities and regions, and set up 2,300-bed hospitals in record time in Wuhan, one in six days to cope with increasing cases, and planning for more, the entire community cooperating, unstoppable supplies and donations, and continuous hard effort.
You can see many non-selfish officials, and members of the public devoted to fighting the new Corona, Premier Li Keqiang, leading the ranks themselves in Wuhan, under the guidance of the president, Xi Jinping, while there are also a few insufficient and inadequate officials. Local governments immediately sacked them, which is now the case.
To acknowledge, the current epidemiological situation is still in the stage of development and change, and it is expected that the large influx of people after the Spring Festival holiday will exert tremendous pressure on preventing and controlling the epidemic, but the governments here have made advanced arrangements and adopted effective measures.
China's position is very large and organized against the epidemic so far. Thanks to these efforts, only one person died of the virus outside China. It is logical that its efforts and the sacrifices of its people should be respected. Isn't what surprising China is facing, compared to the situation faced by others, such as the United States in 2009 when the H1N1 flu virus (pigs) spread in the United States and hit the world, and caused the death of about 284 A thousand people.
However, the United States did not face the same criticism and abuse China faced, its people were not ridiculed or blamed for its cooking culture, although it did not take such measures as the Chinese, thanks to which no more than 150 people were hurt outside the Chinese mainland so far.
Cooperation does not hurt feelings
The distressing feeling here is the feeling that the disease itself was used by some to hurt feelings and racial discrimination at this difficult time, which caused a deep wound on the part of Chinese friends.
- In the media, in recent days, everyone saw here with the sadness of what the German "Der Spiegel" magazine wrote that "the virus was made in China", and what the London Daily "Telegraph" demanded "for Chinese children to stay in their homes" with the approach of the second semester, and what it published Danish newspaper of the Chinese flag mixed with Corona virus.
Officially, many people have heard the remarks of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the attack on the Communist Party of China as "the greatest threat to the world", and what his Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, said, "The virus will boost jobs in the United States."
Some even radicalized it as "divine revenge", and others ignorantly demanded that Chinese society refrain from eating "bats and snakes" and others, as if they were main dishes on the pan-Chinese table, and other things that hurt feelings.
Have they thought about how this affects the Chinese who pay the price? It does not mean that the government did not pay attention to this that the Chinese people are satisfied and happy with this.
The epidemic will pass sooner or later, and these abuses will continue to bear witness to the misbehavior of their owners. China has often faced abuses during SARS 17 years ago, but what happened next? No one should reduce China's ability to cope with this crisis.
Although it is a vast country with a large population, and it is extremely difficult to ensure that everyone does their job well, the Chinese people have one man and one mind. Neither the government will let the epidemic devour the people, nor will the people let the epidemic eat the government.
Difficulties exist and trust also, and the virus will definitely test the responsibility and skills of government officials, as well as the metal of true friends. The World Health Organization director-general, Tedros Adhanum Ghibrius, clearly said: “This is a time for facts and not panic, a time for knowledge and not rumors, a time for solidarity, not stigmatization.”
China is keen to contain the threat on its soil, and the spread of the virus abroad is incomparable internally.
- In the media, in recent days, everyone saw here with the sadness of what the German "Der Spiegel" magazine wrote that "the virus was made in China", and what the London Daily "Telegraph" demanded "for Chinese children to stay in their homes" with the approach of the second semester, and what it published Danish newspaper of the Chinese flag mixed with Corona virus.
Medical teams standing at the doors of apartment complexes measuring the temperature of the residents, and other popular volunteers, examine the identity of strangers and make recommendations. There are teams floating around the apartments, providing instructions and giving emergency numbers, in case someone feels something unusual, and another confirms adherence to preventive measures.