The Struggle Of Wuhan Residents After Being Isolated From The Outside World

Wuhan residents have flocked to stock up on basic necessities (Twitter @americaninwuhan)

JAKARTA - Chinese authorities have decided to close access in and out of Wuhan City, a city believed to be the source of the corona virus (2019-nCoV / Wuhan Flu). All transportation access to and from the city of Wuhan has been closed since Thursday, January 23.

Through the Chinese television station, CCTV, the Mayor of Wuhan Zhou Xianwang also appealed to his citizens not to leave the city. Meanwhile, immigrants should not temporarily visit Wuhan City.

Although it is felt that it can slow down the spread of the nCoV virus, the residents of Wuhan City have felt various problems. This is because the city, which is famous for its exotic animal market, is starting to have a shortage of staple supplies for their daily needs.

The shelves of supermarkets and traditional markets in Wuhan City are running out of goods to sell. Residents who have food stocks isolate themselves at home.

# 武汉 肺炎 大 年初 二 ， 深圳 沃尔玛 人们 已经 在 抢购 粮食 了！ pic.twitter.com/c3BEBfXUZR

- 恶狼 (@Janingzhou) January 26, 2020

The gas station was overwhelmed because many residents were buying fuel to stockpile because there were rumors that the reserves had run out. In addition, many pharmacies are running low on drug supplies.

Quoted from The Guardian, several residents uploaded photos of recently purchased instant noodle supplies and snacks. Many of them said that they would remain at home even though they themselves did not know how long they had to be in the house.

"It won't come out ... so I won't get sick. Hopefully Wuhan will get help soon," wrote one Wuhan resident via Weibo, Monday, January 27.

Another Wuhan resident said the elevator in their apartment complex was disinfected. In addition, most of their friends and relatives in Wuhan plan to stay in the apartment as much as possible.

Video from inside a hospital in Wuhan # China #Wuhan #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/K2HJNwudlw

- CNW (@ConflictsW) January 23, 2020

Hospital Construction

Not only basic necessities are starting to run short. Panicked Wuhan residents have also begun to worry about the spread of the virus that is claimed to be deadly. They flocked to the hospital to have themselves checked.

Long queues left healthy residents exhausted and their body condition deteriorated. Unstable conditions make it easier for the person to catch the corona virus. Not to mention the patients who had been treated from the start.

In addition, many people who seek treatment at the hospital say they were thrown out of the hospital. Hospitals are reportedly running out of beds and diagnostic equipment for patients with fever symptoms. The stock of masks and medical equipment has also begun to decrease to meet the surge in patients.

The chaos prompted the city of Wuhan to build a new hospital. Wuhan authorities are rushing to build an emergency hospital that will serve as a quarantine and treatment center for patients infected with the corona virus.

The Chinese city of Wuhan is rapidly building a new 1,000-bed hospital to treat victims of a new coronavirus, mobilizing machinery to get it ready by early next week https://t.co/ifTdYlHcRF pic.twitter.com/yUaqrvMV0C

- Reuters (@Reuters) January 24, 2020

Hundreds of workers have been mobilized to build a hospital with a capacity of around 1,000 patients. The construction is targeted to be completed within six days.

According to a South China Morning Post report, the authorities paid workers on the project as much as 1,200 yuan (USD173) per day, three times the normal wage to speed up development as the coronavirus outbreak is getting faster and faster.

The latest report, cases of the corona virus have risen sharply to 2,744 cases. The number of victims who died from the corona virus also increased to 80 people.

In addition, China has also issued a total ban on the exotic meat trade after it was discovered that the corona virus was transmitted from animals to humans. This ban is in place and will continue until the 'national epidemic' is over.

In addition, wildlife breeding centers will be quarantined, strict regulations will be enforced and the public warned against eating exotic meat products. The ban was issued supported by three Chinese government agencies.

"Consumers should fully understand the risks involved in eating wild animals, avoiding game meat and eating a healthy diet," said Chinese authorities in a statement issued on Sunday, January 26, 2020.

LOOK: China has started construction on a special hospital in Wuhan to be used to treat coronavirus-infected patients. The hospital is designed to have 1,000 beds and they say it will be open by Feb. 3. pic.twitter.com/mBgIJyzpgd

- QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) January 24, 2020

The link between exotic animal flesh and the coronavirus has been under suspicion since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. Many patients with pneumonia-like symptoms work or live near the Huanan Seafood Market, Wuhan.

The Huanan Market, which reportedly also sells exotic game meat, was closed on January 1. The link between the virus and wild animals sold in the seafood market was confirmed on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 by Gao Fu, Director General of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.