Serious. That’s the only word we have for the approach being hammered out by local authorities in their drive to nip Nanjing’s current COVID outbreak in the bud. For those living in Jiangning District especially, it’s like turning the clock back 2 years, and then some.
However, the numbers for today are encouraging. Yesterday, 21 March, saw Nanjing add just three more COVID positive cases, making the total for the outbreak 101. So, we’re getting there.
But… Tests, tests, tests; and results, results, results. That about sums up the conversations overheard by this publication around Jiangning today. And that’s because hanging over everyone is the increasing likelihood of being asked to produce a negative NAT result at almost any moment.
Following yesterday’s report, The Nanjinger has today received a message from an alert reader informing that their community is requiring residents thereof to present a negative NAT result before they may return to their home. This correspondent can also now verify that fact, having been asked to present same upon reentering his compound during the editing of this article late this afternoon. That’s another big step up from 2020.
The use of masks is the other area getting a major push. Local media has today taken to warning the public of the possibilities in store for those who do not mask up.
Evidently, Article 77 of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases stipulates that violators of the Law that cause the spread or prevalence of infectious diseases, bringing about damage to person or property of others, shall bear civil liability.
In practice, that means the act of refusing to carry out the decisions and orders issued as regards epidemic prevention and control could bring about a fine of ¥200-500 and possibly even 5-10 days imprisonment.
It gets worse. If your actions, for example not wearing a mask, turn out to result in a spread in the epidemic, you may be looking at an extended period behind bars. Should the consequences be especially serious, the Law allows for up to 7 years’ imprisonment.
Enough doom and gloom. We close today with something a little more heart warming.
The day before yesterday, 20 March, was all set to be the wedding day for Dong Shukai and his bride, Chen Xiru. But Chen did not walk down the aisle. She instead took the initiative to volunteer and join her groom in the anti-epidemic effort, reports PSA Jiangning (江宁发布).
Wisely taking the decision to postpone the wedding, Chen is not opening red envelopes; she’s collecting nucleic acid at Nanjing South Railway Station.
While she’s doing that, her groom is busy not far away, in the Station’s Comprehensive Management Office. There, he’s part of the team responsible for checks and verification on out of towners coming to Nanjing. Even during these times when travel is discouraged in the extreme, around 15,000 people per day have been arriving at Nanjing South.
In a rare free moment, Dong sent his bride a quick message. “When the epidemic is over, I’ll give you a perfect wedding.”
