Monday, January 27: A battle between masks, hand washing and germs plays out in this central China city. Will Wuhan explode into a sea of coronavirus patients overwhelming all medical facilities or will a hidden population wearing masks turn the tide? This week could tell the tale.
Wuhan doctors estimate 250,000 carriers of the deadly coronavirus exist in the city. The virus takes two weeks to show its deadly symptoms to its unknowing prey who spread germs along the way.
Scared city residents, including me, began wearing masks and sanitizing hands a week ago. That left us naked to the virus’ clutches for one week. The next week worries me. Can I make to next Monday?
Battle updates
Semester cancelled: The school where I’ve taught the past six years, Jianghan University, cancelled spring semester today in an effort to curb the outbreak.
Two new hospitals: The city began building two new hospitals to care for the afflicted. The buildings, prefabricated sheet-metal built on a slab of concrete, can be quickly constructed. This sounds like the city knows what’s coming.
WalMart greeters: The welcoming faces at WalMart now have a new job in Wuhan, taking shoppers’ temperatures before allowing them to enter. I passed today’s test but it sent a wave of panic over me.
The sadness of the WeChat posts changed today with the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and the other passengers in a helicopter crash. The onslaught of Wuhan news shifted to Bryant for several hours. My male students almost unanimously loved the NBA star for years, even after retirement.
Rescue mission: The confusion over the rescue plane from America began to subside. Congressman Steve Stivers of Columbus kindly sent me a message on the process. The plane will carry mostly government officials but does have “extremely limited” seating for private citizens. The congressman offered his assistance but I don’t want to take a seat for someone who needs it. As the saying goes, “Women and children first.”
All in all Wuhan people remain very quiet in hopes of not attracting the attention of this terrorizing coronavirus dragon.
Few people walk the usually crowded streets and malls. No cars drive the roads. All is quiet. Let’s pray this week remains this way.
