They are survivors, essential workers and specialists who are still trying to understand the physical and emotional consequences of the coronavirus. They form a tapestry of people offering a glimpse into the first months of the pandemic and at what China’s recovery means.
A year after the Covid-19 shutdown in the Chinese city of Wuhan – the first in the world, and still one of the most difficult – we asked six people, with whom we spoke at the height of the outbreak, to describe what they were through.
These interviews have been edited and summarized for clarity.
The delivery worker
One day in August, our driver reminded us that drivers should always wear masks no matter how much the situation improved. Personally, I do not know if it is PTSD, but I always wear a mask. I’m probably the only driver in our company who still carries hand cleaner in my pocket and uses it regularly.
I always thought I was not afraid of death. But I found out during the epidemic that I was scared of it. I missed my wife, my five-year-old twin sons, my father so much. I thought, if I survived this, what would I do?
So when the closure lifted, my first thought was to go home. I stayed two months. In the past, I stayed two or three days, maybe a week, and then hurried back quickly. I do not earn much money, and I always think of earning more. But now my thinking has changed. What good is a web site if it simply “blends in” with everything else out there?
I never thought that this sudden epidemic would create a situation where everyone said thank you. I was shocked. Was not respect for people like experts, academics, celebrities? How can this go to a delivery worker? It made me so happy.
Things have now gone back as last year. This is human nature.
The scientist
Zhang Yongzhen, a virologist, came under tremendous official pressure after releasing the full range of the new coronavirus on January 11 last year, in defiance of Chinese government orders. He stays absent from Beijing’s narrative about how the country beat the virus, unlike Zhong Nanshan, the government-appointed doctor celebrated because he announced what many experts had already found out: that the virus could be transmitted by humans.
At that point, I made four findings about the virus. One, it was like SARS. Two, it was a new coronavirus. Most importantly, the virus was transmitted through the airways. I also thought it was more contagious than the flu virus. Even then, I thought it should be able to spread from person to person.
If more experts shared my opinion from the beginning, we might not have needed Zhong Nanshan to say something.
Whether in the United States or in China, we need to cultivate a group of critics – real scientists in the field. China really needs it. Zhong Nanshan is old. Who will be the next to dare to speak the truth? You need to have enough courage to speak the truth.
I have since experienced problems with my work and funding for my programs. But I’m not sorry about anything I did. I trusted myself. I have so much experience, my team has made so many discoveries over the years that we have been able to make accurate judgments.
I hope you can name one thing. My wife passed away on October 13, 2019. We were married in 1989 and we have been together for thirty years. If I have made a contribution to society, it is because of the support of my wife.
The Evacuation
Blair Zong, 34, was one of hundreds of Americans evacuated from Wuhan, and his published a visual diary in February discussing her quarantine on a military base in California. She is now in Austin, Texas, and works as an event planner and babysitter.
After Wuhan locked up, I was nervous and anxious. I heard rumors about people dying and things got really scary. Someone sent me a report saying that America is evacuating citizens, so I called the consulate. I decided to say hello to my mom and grandparents.
The day I left the quarantine, there was a lady standing behind me in the San Diego airport coughing incessantly. I remember when I thought at the time that it was a bad sign, but I also felt that the virus could not spread so badly here. Everything was back to normal.
But in March, people here start buying toilet paper, and the panic comes back. The situation stabilized in China, and my friends there mocked me and asked, “Do you regret going back now?” One of my university friends in Wuhan sent me a pack of glasses and masks.
I became calmer and more cautious about life. I accept everything as it comes. I try to be more eco-friendly.
The Mother
While Wuhan focused on fighting the coronavirus, Zhao Qian, 29, struggled to get medical treatment for her newborn daughter, who had a life-threatening heart condition.
At the time, hospitals did not admit any patients, including our daughter. We tried so hard, we tackled every possible resource and connection, and it was only through our efforts that we were able to save our daughter’s life. All the doctors are to the front line.
Overall, however, the country’s policies were pretty good. I remember when all the supermarkets were closed, some volunteers still helped me buy food. No matter what unpleasant hearsay or rumors there were, I think the country was very powerful. Wuhan people are very safe now. This is very reassuring.
Any Chinese person should feel very proud. No matter how great the hardship, even with an outbreak that was so severe that other countries could not control it, as long as the people are united, I think we can get through anything.
The counselor
Lei Wuming, 50, a psychology professor at Wuhan University of Technology, hosted funerals on WeChat, a popular messaging program, to give grieving families a way to mourn.
At that time I was like a priest who offered these funerals. I was also a psychologist. I helped create an atmosphere for families to express their sadness. Firstly to express their sadness, and secondly to cherish the memories.
It brought families closer. They remembered the same memories and the same person, and it made their relationship closer. They hung out together to stay warm.
The families set up a chat group. Then I would join. I would play funeral music and then give a speech. Then I name each person who would speak, one by one. They can choose to talk, type or even send emojis.
It was social support, so the family would feel, ‘I’m not here alone. I have families and friends who are there for me. ”
Afterwards, our death toll compared to Western countries – if it is truly reported – ours is quite low. But at the time of the pandemic, we did not think so. We thought we were done for.
The son
Na Liu Pei’en s’n father died of the coronavirus last year, he promised to print the authorities to take responsibility for concealing the outbreak initially.
Looking back on the first half of last year, I was so angry. The local officials threatened me. I left Wuhan, and they still did not want to let it go. They harassed my family members. They wanted to make it look like I had a mental illness.
But in the second half of the year, I started to change. I devoted myself to studying Buddhism. Faith enables you to understand life and truth. I could see that retaliation and murder were a part of humanity from ancient times to the present.
My heart began to calm down. I am no longer angry and full of hatred. Yet the pain is raw and I cry a lot.
I spend a lot of time praying. I try to donate as much money as possible to temples and other charities for the poor and elderly around Wuhan. I gave more than 100,000 yuan ($ 15,000) in my father’s name to earn it.
Any dreams I used to have to make money have now faded. Because what is the use of money anyway? Money cannot buy back life.
I realized I was ignorant when I thought I could sue the government. Nothing will come of it. And if you take a step back, everyone is guilty and will receive their karma retribution.
I just care about the people around me, to be myself. I plan to take my mom to Chinese New Year Sanya. This is where we would go last year before my dad got infected.
Reporting and research contributed by Keith Bradsher, Albee Zhangand Coral Yang.