They are survivors, essential workers and specialists still trying to understand the physical and emotional effects of the coronavirus. They form a tapestry of people, offering insight into the early months of the pandemic and what China’s recovery means.
A year after the Covid-19 blockade in the Chinese city of Wuhan – the first in the world and still one of the most severe – we asked six people, some of whom we talked to at the height of the outbreak, to describe what they went through.
These interviews were edited and condensed for clarity.
The delivery man
One day in August, our manager reminded us that drivers always had to wear masks, no matter how much the situation had improved. Personally, I don’t know if it’s PTSD, but I always use a mask. I’m probably the only driver in our company who still carries hand sanitizer in his pocket and uses it regularly.
I always thought I wasn’t afraid of death. But I discovered during the epidemic that I am terrified of it. I missed my wife, my 5 year old twin children, my father very much. I thought, if I survive this, what am I going to do?
So, after the blockade was over, my first thought was to go home. I stayed two months. In the past, I would stay two or three days, maybe a week, and run back. I don’t make much money and my mind was always on doing more. But now, my thinking has changed. If I earn a little more money, what’s the use?
I never thought that this sudden epidemic would create a situation in which everyone would be grateful. I was shocked. Wasn’t it respect for people like experts, academics, celebrities? How could I go to a delivery man? This made me very happy.
Now, things are back to how they were last year. This is human nature.
The scientist
Zhang Yongzhen, a virologist, came under immense official pressure after launching the complete sequence of the new coronavirus on January 11 of last year, defying Chinese government orders. He remains absent from the Beijing narrative of how the country defeated the virus, in contrast to Zhong Nanshan, the government-appointed doctor celebrated for announcing what many experts had already discovered: that the virus could be transmitted by humans.
At that time, I made four discoveries about the virus. One, it was like SARS. Two, it was a new coronavirus. Most importantly, the virus was transmitted through the respiratory tract. I also thought it was more infectious than the flu virus. Still, I thought I should be able to spread from humans to humans.
If more experts had shared my opinion from the start, we might not have needed Zhong Nanshan to say anything.
Whether in the United States or China, we need to cultivate a group of critics – true scientists in the field. China really needs this. Zhong Nanshan is old. Who will be the next to dare to speak the truth? You must be brave enough to speak the truth.
Since then, I have encountered some difficulties in terms of work and funding for my programs. But I don’t regret 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 mention one thing. My wife passed away on October 13, 2019. We were married in 1989 and have been together for 30 years. If I made a contribution to society, it was because of my wife’s support.
The Evacuate
Blair Zong, 34, was one of hundreds of Americans who were evacuated from Wuhan, and she published a visual diary in February, reporting its quarantine at a military base in California. She is now in Austin, Texas, working as an event planner and nanny.
After Wuhan crashed, I became nervous and anxious. I heard rumors about people dying and things got really scary. Someone sent me a report saying that America was evacuating citizens, so I called the consulate. I made the decision to go and said goodbye to my mother and grandparents.
The day I left the quarantine, there was a lady behind me in line at the San Diego airport who was coughing non-stop. I remember thinking at the time that it was a bad sign, but I also felt that there was no way the virus could spread so much here. Everything was normal again.
But then, starting in March, people here started to buy toilet paper and panic returned. The situation had stabilized in China, so my friends started making fun of me, asking, “Do you regret going back now?” One of my college friends in Wuhan sent me a package of glasses and masks.
I became calmer and more careful with life. I accept everything as it comes. I’m trying to be more environmentally friendly.
The mother
While Wuhan focused on fighting the coronavirus, Zhao Qian, 29, struggled to get medical treatment for his newborn daughter, who had life-threatening heart disease.
At the time, hospitals were not receiving any patients, including our daughter. We tried so hard, we took advantage of all possible resources and connections, and it was only through our efforts that we were able to save our daughter’s life. All the doctors went to the front line.
Overall, however, the country’s policies were very good. I remember that when all the supermarkets were closed, some volunteers still helped me buy food. No matter what unpleasant rumors or rumors there may have been, I think the country was very powerful. The people of Wuhan are now very safe. It is very comforting.
Any Chinese should be very proud. However great the difficulties, even with an outbreak so severe that other countries could not control it, as long as people are united, I think we can overcome everything.
The advisor
Lei Wuming, 50, a professor of psychology at Wuhan University of Technology, started organizing funerals through WeChat, a popular messaging app, to give grieving families a way to grieve.
At that time, I was like a priest presenting these funerals. I was also a psychologist. I helped create an environment for families to express their pain. First, to express your sadness and, second, to value memories.
This brought families closer together. They recalled the same memories and the same person and it made their relationship closer. They were piling up to keep warm.
Families would create a chat group. Then I would enter. I played a funeral song and then gave a speech. So, I would name each person who would speak, one by one. They can choose to speak, type or even send emojis.
It was social support, so the family felt: “I am not alone here. I have families and friends who are there for me. “
In retrospect, our number of deaths compared to Western countries – if reported honestly – ours is quite low. But at the time of the pandemic, we didn’t think so. We thought we were lost.
The son
After Liu Pei’en dad died of coronavirus last January, he swore pressure authorities assume responsibility for initially hiding the outbreak.
Looking at the first half of last year, I was very angry. The local authorities threatened me. I left Wuhan, and they still haven’t given up. They harassed my relatives. 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 dedicated myself to studying Buddhism. Faith allows you to understand life and the truth. I could see that retribution and killing are part of humanity from ancient times to the present.
My heart started to calm down. I am no longer angry and full of hate. Even so, the pain is strong and I cry a lot.
I spend a lot of time praying. I try to donate as much money as I can to temples and other charitable organizations for the poor and elderly around Wuhan. I gave over 100,000 yuan ($ 15,000) in my father’s name to help him earn merit.
All my dreams of making money before now have faded. After all, what is money for? Money cannot buy life back.
I realized that I was ignorant when I thought I could sue the government. Nothing will come of it. And if you take a step back, everyone will be blamed and face karmic retribution.
I only care about the people around me, being myself. I am planning to take my mother to Sanya for the Chinese New Year. That’s where we went last year, before my father got infected.
Reports and research were contributed by Keith Bradsher, Albee Zhangand Coral Yang.