About Beijing’s COVID-19 pandemic

Hi, everyone,

Some friends sent me emails to ask about Beijing’s COVID-19 pandemic. They are anxiously watching and caring about my health. Thanks to all friends who care about me, care about Beijing, and care about China. I think writing this letter may be a good way to tell you that we are fine. Thanks!

It is true that almost all people around me -- my family, colleagues and friends got infected. Most of them are still in recovery. Some are already fully recovered. The experience of most of us are like flu -- no difference with other parts of the world.

It is true too that there were panic at the start, about 10 days ago, when seeing more and more people getting sick -- fever, coughing, sour throat, but luckily no cases serious to life-threatening. Until now, all the people I know are fine, no one died for it, even in the senior community where my parents live.

I was very worried about my parents. They are in 80s and were not vaccinated due to poor health. But they are still OK now, almost fully recovered after mild symptoms of sour throat and low fever. I think there must be some people who failed to go through it. But the number seems not big, from my observation of my parents’ community.

I found the normal life is gradually coming back in Beijing, as more people are seen on the streets and business reopened after a week of difficult time.

There were some people rushing to buy flu pills and herb medicines. But as China is a big manufacturer of such kind of medicines, it is not a problem to meet the needs.

The government changed the tactic from tight control to help people get informed and organized to cope with the situation. A good example is the organization of delivery forces coming from other provinces to support Beijing, which is very helpful as many deliverymen in Beijing got sick. The deliverymen from other provinces helped Beijingers to get things they ordered online.

Beijing’s doctors and nurses are the ones owed a “Thanks” by everyone. Most of them were sick too but they insisted on working to help everyone who went to hospital. They again became the bravest soldiers in the fight against pandemic.  

Some of my colleagues came back to work after recovery since Monday. We had to do work at home and meet online during the past week (some were coughing during video meeting). When we meet again, you can imagine that most topics of our discussion were about our different experiences in illness. The atmosphere is relieved and delighted -- we successfully went through it!

People are getting more and more optimistic. Some are planning their Lunar New Year trips and next year’s business.

I am still watching the whole situation in China, as many places are still waiting for the wave of pandemic. You know China is very big. My cousin in a small eastern city is one of those waiting. He prepared a lot of medicine and food. And there is possibility the virus will have new mutations as so many people are infected.

Ok, that is my COVID-19 story. Thanks again to friends! Hope this letter give you a better feeling. I really appreciate your caring. Wish everybody happy, lucky, healthy!