A new strain of coronavirus is believed to have originated last December in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, Hubei province.

Last June, a concerned citizen published a short letter on the website of the People’s Daily, in which he urged the government to reinforce its supervision and take charge of the South China Seafood Market (华南海鲜市场 Huá nán hǎi xiān shì chǎng) in Wuhan city. The market, he claimed, is stinking and dirty (脏乱差 zàng luàn chà).

Six months later, on December 31, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission admitted that the multiple cases of pneumonia  (肺炎 fèi yán) reported in the city lately are associated with the South China Seafood Market. Pictures from the market show the poor (恶劣 è liè) sanitation conditions (环境卫生 huán jìng wèi shēng) in a market that sells a variety of wild animals.

The market was closed down (关闭 guān bì) the next day, but the new strain of pneumonia  (新型肺炎 xīn xíng fèi yán) as it often called in the Chinese media, had already spread (扩散 kuò sàn). With more and more been infected every day, causalities have been reported in and outside of China. Authorities recommend avoiding crowded places, wearing masks (口罩 kǒu zhào), and thoroughly cooking diary and meat products. They even explain how to wash your hands.

The new strain of coronavirus (冠状病毒 guān zhuàng bìng dú) hit China just before the Chinese New Year celebration. The virus outbreak ruins the most important cultural events of the year. The epicenter of Wuhan was quarantined (封城 fēng chéng) two days before the New Year. Masks factories worked nonstop during the holiday, trying to meet the great demand (需求 xū qiú). Major celebration events were cancelled around the country, and many places, including temples closed their doors to visitors.

The virus (病毒 bìng dú) turned China biggest holiday into chaos. The panic motivated people to look to local initiatives, and although Wuhan coronavirus was confirmed in almost all of China’s provinces, it seems that Henan people are more active. Many transportation stations, dwelling compounds, and other institutions in Henan are being disinfected on a daily basis. Moreover, body temperature is taken of anyone who wishes to enter. Although Wuhan is in lockdown, Henan locals are still afraid residents from the epicenter will arrive, so they decided to seal off their towns, using tractors to pile dirt on the roads. In Nanyang city red banners, encouraging people to stay at home, were displayed on the street, saying:

少出门，多居家，网络拜年乐大家!

Shǎo chū mén, duō jū jiā, wǎng luò bài nián lè dà jiā!

Don’t go out, stay home, wish Happy New Year online!

In several places red banners were also hung on private doors, saying:

本户有武汉返乡人员，请勿相互来往

Běn hù yǒu Wǔhàn fǎn xiāng rén yuán, qǐng wù xiāng hù lái wǎng

This household has people from Wuhan, please stay away

In Puyang city, a pink note was attached to a door, forbidding its residents to go out or contact (接触 jiē chù) other people until the end of January, since the house has people from Wuhan.

We all hope the epidemic will end soon, and wish everyone will be safe and healthy 大家都健康平安！

 

Text vocabulary

市场 shì chǎng = market

脏乱差 zàng luàn chà = dirty ad messy

肺炎 fèi yán = pneumonia

恶劣 è liè = bad

环境卫生huán jìng wèi shēng = environmental hygiene, sanitation

关闭 guān bì = to close down

新型 xīn xíng = new type

扩散 kuò sàn = to spread

口罩 kǒu zhào = face mask

病毒 bìng dú = virus

冠状病毒 guān zhuàng bìng dú= coronavirus

封城 fēng chéng = to seal off a city

需求 xū qiú = demand

接触 jiē chù = to come into contact with

好好学习，天天向上！

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