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Coronavirus: 'We've been advised not to leave our rooms' Coronavirus: Life as a foreigner in Wuhan
(about 11 hours later)
With two Chinese cities in lockdown in a bid to manage the spread a new strain of coronavirus, what's it like for those in the quarantine zone? At least 10 Chinese cities are in lockdown in a bid to manage the spread of a new strain of coronavirus but what's it like for those in the quarantine zone?
Cafes, cinemas, theatres and exhibitions in Wuhan and Huanggang have been shut down. The country's death toll has so far risen to 26 and authorities have put in place travel restrictions in Hubei province.
Authorities say this new virus started in a seafood market in Wuhan that "conducted illegal transactions of wild animals". Authorities say this new virus started in a seafood market in Wuhan which "conducted illegal transactions of wild animals".
Currently known as 2019-nCoV, this particular strain has not been previously identified in humans.Currently known as 2019-nCoV, this particular strain has not been previously identified in humans.
A female international student living in Wuhan for six years spoke to BBC Outside Source anonymously.
"I live on campus but many people have gone back home so it's pretty quiet over here and it's normal around about now to not have people around.
"But then to know that even outside of the campus that everything is closed down just shows how serious the whole situation is because of the lockdown.
"That makes me actually feel safe but we don't know when things are going to go back to normal.
"There is sometimes too much information because we have group chats [on apps] where people are just posting news they are reading online, so you don't really know what is true, or what is not true.
"When the whole lockdown happened, there was news that the city was going to be disinfected with effort spray and disinfectant in the air and all that, but then later on it came out that it's not true. There's nothing like that happening.
"We just have to wait for official notices.
"In December, there were messages in my class group that said Sars was back and then we found out it was something else.
"And now we find out it's spreading, actually spreading outside of the city and now there's so much public attention.
"It seemed like they was sitting on it or they were trying to control everything on their own.
"But then now, there's more external pressure so they are moving much faster."
Jan Robert R Go is from the Philippines and is living in Wuhan while he studies for his doctorate in political theory, at Central China Normal University.Jan Robert R Go is from the Philippines and is living in Wuhan while he studies for his doctorate in political theory, at Central China Normal University.
"I'm an international student and we've been advised not to leave our rooms unless it's necessary - and even then we have to take extra precautions."I'm an international student and we've been advised not to leave our rooms unless it's necessary - and even then we have to take extra precautions.
"There are fewer people on the street but I can't attribute that to the virus alone because of the lunar festival - most students have gone home.
"It's not weird but I guess most people don't want to leave. The news has already sent a signal to people. Before we were told it was fine but now the virus seems to have spread quickly.
"We are learning that the problem is bigger than they first thought.
"I've been taking the precautions advised - it's about keeping yourself clean and, of course, wearing masks is mandatory."I've been taking the precautions advised - it's about keeping yourself clean and, of course, wearing masks is mandatory.
"Because I'm living in school dormitories, the university is providing us with free facemasks and free soap to wash ourselves with."Because I'm living in school dormitories, the university is providing us with free facemasks and free soap to wash ourselves with.
"The university is providing us with what we need. They are making us feel safe. "The university is providing us with what we need. They are making us feel safe."
"As the news emerged, my family and friends in the Philippines started sending me messages but I am fine. People here are taking everything step by step." A doctor at a hospital in Wuhan also spoke to BBC News.
A doctor at a hospital in Wuhan also spoke to BBC News
"The virus is now spreading at an alarming rate. The hospitals have been flooding with thousands of patients, who wait hours to see a doctor - you can imagine their panic."The virus is now spreading at an alarming rate. The hospitals have been flooding with thousands of patients, who wait hours to see a doctor - you can imagine their panic.
"Normally, Wuhan is a great place to live and we are proud of our work - specialists here have developed a guide for coronavirus diagnosis and treatment."Normally, Wuhan is a great place to live and we are proud of our work - specialists here have developed a guide for coronavirus diagnosis and treatment.
"But I am scared because this is a new virus and the figures are worrying."But I am scared because this is a new virus and the figures are worrying.
"Two days ago, we were told not to go to work because of the risk of contamination. If we leave our home on the hospital campus, we are required to wear masks.
"If we leave our house, we have to wear masks. It's illegal not to wear them.
"We don't want to take our two-year-old son outside. He's sleeping now and we are trying to protect him as much as possible - using hand-washing, airing the apartment, avoiding contact with people."
Daniel Pekarek is a software engineering student at Wuhan University, currently in the city, and spoke to the BBC's World at One radio programme.Daniel Pekarek is a software engineering student at Wuhan University, currently in the city, and spoke to the BBC's World at One radio programme.
"I'm not sure what I should do, because I'm all alone here in Wuhan. I've got some friends who study at the university as well and we have all decided to stay in our rooms."I'm not sure what I should do, because I'm all alone here in Wuhan. I've got some friends who study at the university as well and we have all decided to stay in our rooms.
"I heard about this infection in December but back then nobody cared about it - but right now, it's getting out of hand."I heard about this infection in December but back then nobody cared about it - but right now, it's getting out of hand.
"People are not able to go in or out of Wuhan easily right now. I can go out of my apartment, I can move around in Wuhan by foot, but public transport is all blocked right now."People are not able to go in or out of Wuhan easily right now. I can go out of my apartment, I can move around in Wuhan by foot, but public transport is all blocked right now.
"Some people said because of Chinese New Year, there is a possibility the shops will close and I've seen some pictures on the internet that the shops - Walmart, things like that - are all getting sold out, that the people are going crazy and they are trying to buy as many things as they can.
"I might not be able to pay the water, so I might run out of water. It's complicated here, I need to take a card and I need to go to a special office here to charge it but everyone is out because it's Chinese New Year and I've got nobody with me who can speak Chinese because my girlfriend is out of town."I might not be able to pay the water, so I might run out of water. It's complicated here, I need to take a card and I need to go to a special office here to charge it but everyone is out because it's Chinese New Year and I've got nobody with me who can speak Chinese because my girlfriend is out of town.
"I was planning to stay in my apartment because I'm scared to go to the gym, and I'm scared to go to out in public, and not many people are willing to go out." "I was planning to stay in my apartment because I'm scared to go to the gym and I'm scared to go to out in public."
Another international student in Wuhan, who had planned to leave the city, spoke to BBC Outside Source anonymously. Another international student in Wuhan, who had planned to leave the city, also spoke to BBC Outside Source anonymously.
"Public transportation has been shut down. Flights coming in and flights leaving Wuhan have also been cancelled. Now, I cannot fly out tomorrow. "Flights coming in and flights leaving Wuhan have also been cancelled.
"We don't know what is going to happen next. This morning, we were advised to go out and buy groceries for two weeks, because they are going to restrict movement in public places. After 17:00, people will not be allowed to move around in the city.
"Most of the ordinary vegetables could not easily be accessible and the few ones available were quite high priced.
"It's quite deserted. There are no taxis around. Most of the people we found in the supermarket were basically foreigners who were now trying to restock their fridge."It's quite deserted. There are no taxis around. Most of the people we found in the supermarket were basically foreigners who were now trying to restock their fridge.
"The [Chinese] nationals are more informed because they use Weibo, they use other social-media platforms that most foreigners do not use."The [Chinese] nationals are more informed because they use Weibo, they use other social-media platforms that most foreigners do not use.
"Before we are allowed into our hostel, they point something at your forehead. Then, they record your temperature."Before we are allowed into our hostel, they point something at your forehead. Then, they record your temperature.
"So most foreigners are basically in their rooms and don't go out after 17:00."So most foreigners are basically in their rooms and don't go out after 17:00.
"At airports and various places, there are police cars that have blocked the road. They've given the directive that unless there is something serious, movement is not permitted and they've given us emergency numbers that if you have symptoms, you call and they will come and get you.""At airports and various places, there are police cars that have blocked the road. They've given the directive that unless there is something serious, movement is not permitted and they've given us emergency numbers that if you have symptoms, you call and they will come and get you."