Spending Spring Festival 2020 at Nanjing University and Fears of Coronavirus

春节快乐

 It is 24^th of January, 2020 and is the Spring Festival Eve at Nanjing University. Recently, Coronavirus has been outbroken in many parts of China. It is an epidemic virus that is spreading like a wind where many new cases have been identified on a regular basis. Every day, we hear news of cases being detected in different parts of the country. I have been not much concerned previously, however, a friend of mine was discussing the severity of the situation when I told her that I have been to Shanghai recently. It was after that when I started to watch-out social media and news specifically concerning to the Coronavirus. Now, I feel scared, it is not only me, everyone in China is gravely concerned. The virus has been first identified in the Wuhan province of China where the maximum number of cases has been identified. Most of the other cases have been identified mostly in the eastern parts of China. Random cases in Japan, USA, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand have also been reported until January 24^th, 2020. Scientists have been able to figure out the sequence of the virus, however, they have not yet been able to develop a vaccine.

The city of Wuhan consisting of approximately 11 million people has been in a virtually lockdown situation. Airports, trains, and long-distance buses have been shut down. Global emergency has not yet been declared officially, however; the world is praising the extraordinary measures that have been taken by the Chinese Government. Today, the Friday prayers have also been canceled due to the protective measures against the virus.  Schools have issued notices to the students who have traveled out of China not to come back until the next notice. Nanjing University has also issued a notice to not to travel unnecessarily out of the cities. Constant advisories have been issued to the people who have been to Wuhan to visit the nearby hospitals. It has been communicated that the people who find any symptoms of constant cough, sore throat, and constant temperature to not to hide their medical conditions in order to effectively provide remedies and to stop the disease from spreading.

I have been to Nande-HeYuan outside of Xianlin Campus, where I saw a tanker spraying vaccine into the air. I used to see those tankers during summers showering water around the roads, however, yesterday I could feel the smell of vaccine when it passed by me. My Chinese friends are continuously sharing news about the virus making the situation more fearful.  The Spring Festival has been brought to a virtual halt where most of the bars, restaurants, and public spaces have been closed.  It seems that this year the Spring Festival will have lost the charm as a friend was telling me that all the Chinese State level celebrations have been canceled. This shows the promising relation of the Chinese Government with its citizens. Rightly so, people are more concerned about the virus rather than celebrating the event. In my previous Spring Festival experiences, my WeChat moments used to fill up with the wishes and celebrations. Opposingly, it is 5 PM on the Spring Festival Eve and still, I haven’t seen a wishful message in any WeChat group or on moments.

Coronavirus is bringing more miseries to the already abandoned atmosphere that usually happens during the spring festival at Nanjing University. Usually, a dinner is arranged in the university canteen for the on-campus students to celebrate the Spring Festival Eve. However, my friends are reluctant to attend due to the virus's fears. We have been to the nearby mountain today, however, we were unable to witness any festive environment. A sense of fear has been spread all around as people are in a grave worry.

A clean-living style with healthy activities is needed as well as wearing masks is imperative to protect ourselves. Social media is a blessing to spread awareness; as remedial measures have been shared. However, it is also creating an endorsed fear among people. Most of the Chinese citizens have traveled back to their native homes to celebrate the event. Therefore,  authorities are also concerned about the spread of diseases as this event is the largest annual human migration in the world. The real numbers could be only figured out as the people will come back from their hometowns.

Apart from all the discussion every individual should take remedial measures for protection. I wish and pray that the recovery vaccine is devised and humanity is protected from a major disaster.