Those lovable creatures who bring us our take out whenever we desire have been considerably busier than normal in the past few days, with Nanjing now gripped by fear of COVID. And as people hunker down, the “wai mai” guys are not the only ones turning a profit.
Many didn’t go to work today in Nanjing, grappling with new uncertainties over the epidemic situation, while trying to reconcile the daily requirement for nucleic-acid testing of 2 weeks ago with today’s announcement that a negative-test result is no longer required to even enter medical institutions.
It’s a complete 180 by authorities that is supposedly backed by science. And it’s got people staying home in their droves, ordering takeout, medicine and fruit. The more paranoid are also electing to self test for COVID.
As reported today by Nanjing Daily, “Antigen self-test is recommended for people with suspected symptoms, such as cold, stuffy nose, runny nose, diarrhoea, who may have contact with COVID-infected people, or who are in isolation at home”. The self test is convenient, fast and reduces possible cross infection when out in public.
In one of its most trending stories, Nanjing Daily has also today reported on the sales of pain killers such as Ibuprofen. Those have tripled in recent days.
Another hot item these days is the N95 mask. Addressing worries over potential stockpiling, a pharmacy employee told reporters that any one person is limited to ten purchases of such, at a unit price of ¥3.2.
As to other items flying off the shelves these past few days, The Nanjinger this afternoon stopped by its preferred fruit vendor. Sales, we were told, are up dramatically, especially of any fruit high in Vitamin C. Lemons sales, in particular, are up 100 percent on a week ago.
Then there are those takeout delivery chaps. The Nanjinger today had difficulty in actually finding a wai mai guy to interview, an effort that would presented little difficulty at 14:00 any other day. Eventually, one confided that his orders were up about 50 percent on a week or 2 ago.
Perhaps the overriding concern of most is the uncertainty. In addition to the relaxing of the bulk of anti-epidemic measures, health authorities in China have also this week chosen to no longer make a daily report as to the number of asymptomatic COVID infections.
While that’s in part due to there being little nucleic-acid testing performed on which to base the results, it’s also driving a fear of the unknown as heresy starts to embed itself in the community.
This week, there have been infected persons telling The Nanjinger of splitting headaches and nausea, and others voicing concern that they have COVID-positive colleagues at work.
They are wondering whether they should go to the office. While such people have the right to request their workplace be disinfected, the official line is to be on duty as normal. Otherwise, the lawyers say, it shall constitute absenteeism.
