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Quarreling in Quarantine and Bridging a Generational Divide Quarreling in Quarantine and Bridging a Generational Divide
(8 days later)
HONG KONG — Under normal circumstances, Patrick Wu, a college student from Anhui Province in China’s east, knows better than to talk to his parents about politics.HONG KONG — Under normal circumstances, Patrick Wu, a college student from Anhui Province in China’s east, knows better than to talk to his parents about politics.
Mr. Wu, a senior at a university in Beijing, is a self-described skeptic of the Chinese government. His parents are local government officials.Mr. Wu, a senior at a university in Beijing, is a self-described skeptic of the Chinese government. His parents are local government officials.
But recent months have been anything but normal. The coronavirus outbreak, and its political implications, have been all that Mr. Wu, 21, thinks about. And for months, after traveling to their hometown in January for the Lunar New Year, he has been stuck there.But recent months have been anything but normal. The coronavirus outbreak, and its political implications, have been all that Mr. Wu, 21, thinks about. And for months, after traveling to their hometown in January for the Lunar New Year, he has been stuck there.
Which was how Mr. Wu, in recent weeks, found himself debating politics over the dinner table with the only two people he was allowed to see in person, committing perhaps the prime faux pas of prolonged isolation.Which was how Mr. Wu, in recent weeks, found himself debating politics over the dinner table with the only two people he was allowed to see in person, committing perhaps the prime faux pas of prolonged isolation.
“You can spend 12 hours online talking to your friends every day,” Mr. Wu said. “But you are angry 24 hours every day. So sometimes, your anger just can’t be held back anymore.”“You can spend 12 hours online talking to your friends every day,” Mr. Wu said. “But you are angry 24 hours every day. So sometimes, your anger just can’t be held back anymore.”
Familial political disagreements are nothing new, but they are especially fraught in China, where dissent can bring not just an uncomfortable meal but real consequences.Familial political disagreements are nothing new, but they are especially fraught in China, where dissent can bring not just an uncomfortable meal but real consequences.
Mr. Wu’s experience reflects how deeply the outbreak has shaken Chinese society, reaching deep into households even far away from the virus’s epicenter, and raising doubts among even among typically steadfast government supporters.Mr. Wu’s experience reflects how deeply the outbreak has shaken Chinese society, reaching deep into households even far away from the virus’s epicenter, and raising doubts among even among typically steadfast government supporters.
During the height of the lockdown, Mr. Wu was permitted to go outside only once every two days. Trapped and frustrated at his parents’ home, he showed them screenshots of censored footage from hospitals in Wuhan, where the epidemic originated, and plied them with investigations from Chinese news outlets documenting the government crackdown on whistle-blowers.During the height of the lockdown, Mr. Wu was permitted to go outside only once every two days. Trapped and frustrated at his parents’ home, he showed them screenshots of censored footage from hospitals in Wuhan, where the epidemic originated, and plied them with investigations from Chinese news outlets documenting the government crackdown on whistle-blowers.
His parents, in their late 40s, were skeptical. His father, Mr. Wu said, tries to stay away from political discussions. His mother was supportive of the ruling Communist Party.His parents, in their late 40s, were skeptical. His father, Mr. Wu said, tries to stay away from political discussions. His mother was supportive of the ruling Communist Party.
Dinnertime discussions often devolved into shouting matches. But they had nowhere else to go.Dinnertime discussions often devolved into shouting matches. But they had nowhere else to go.
Mr. Wu had not gone home intending to change anybody’s mind on anything. He and his parents are close, despite their ideological differences. He had always avoided bringing up delicate topics during his visits to Anhui, which were usually brief.Mr. Wu had not gone home intending to change anybody’s mind on anything. He and his parents are close, despite their ideological differences. He had always avoided bringing up delicate topics during his visits to Anhui, which were usually brief.
It was during a phone call in early January, before Mr. Wu had returned to Anhui that they first discussed the mysterious new sickness in central China.It was during a phone call in early January, before Mr. Wu had returned to Anhui that they first discussed the mysterious new sickness in central China.
It didn’t seem serious, his parents said.It didn’t seem serious, his parents said.
But at their home in the following weeks, Mr. Wu saw more and more signs of distress from Wuhan on Weibo, a popular Chinese platform akin to Twitter. After the state news media played down the virus’s significance, he burrowed under China’s firewall to read foreign news reports.But at their home in the following weeks, Mr. Wu saw more and more signs of distress from Wuhan on Weibo, a popular Chinese platform akin to Twitter. After the state news media played down the virus’s significance, he burrowed under China’s firewall to read foreign news reports.
His parents, like many older Chinese, do not use Weibo. They remained unperturbed.His parents, like many older Chinese, do not use Weibo. They remained unperturbed.
Over time, though, recognition of the gravity of the epidemic became unavoidable.Over time, though, recognition of the gravity of the epidemic became unavoidable.
Updated June 24, 2020
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
“Things just got out of control. You could see people dying at home,” Mr. Wu said. “I just felt like more people should know about this, and I should open myself to more conversations about this — at least with my parents, who I can trust.”“Things just got out of control. You could see people dying at home,” Mr. Wu said. “I just felt like more people should know about this, and I should open myself to more conversations about this — at least with my parents, who I can trust.”
His parents, from the start, resisted. “Their first reaction was shock and rejection: ‘How could this happen in Wuhan? It must be fake,’” Mr. Wu recalled.His parents, from the start, resisted. “Their first reaction was shock and rejection: ‘How could this happen in Wuhan? It must be fake,’” Mr. Wu recalled.
After they were persuaded that the outbreak was genuine, they rejected that Chinese officials had at first covered it up and questioned how it could have exploded so quickly.After they were persuaded that the outbreak was genuine, they rejected that Chinese officials had at first covered it up and questioned how it could have exploded so quickly.
Were people who eat wild animals to blame, they asked after the virus was linked to a Wuhan market that sells wildlife. Or maybe the United States planted the virus, his parents said, considering an unfounded conspiracy theory peddled by a top Chinese government spokesman.Were people who eat wild animals to blame, they asked after the virus was linked to a Wuhan market that sells wildlife. Or maybe the United States planted the virus, his parents said, considering an unfounded conspiracy theory peddled by a top Chinese government spokesman.
“I think the gap in information is too big, and sometimes I alone can’t fill it,” Mr. Wu said.“I think the gap in information is too big, and sometimes I alone can’t fill it,” Mr. Wu said.
Slowly, though, he felt his mother relenting. The sheer number of online posts about the virus outpaced even the government’s army of censors. Rage and despair found their way into his parents’ social media feeds, and when a whistle-blower doctor, Li Wenliang, died of the coronavirus, prompting an online revolt against censorship, it was Mr. Wu’s mother who alerted him to the news.Slowly, though, he felt his mother relenting. The sheer number of online posts about the virus outpaced even the government’s army of censors. Rage and despair found their way into his parents’ social media feeds, and when a whistle-blower doctor, Li Wenliang, died of the coronavirus, prompting an online revolt against censorship, it was Mr. Wu’s mother who alerted him to the news.
Still, Mr. Wu is realistic about the changes in outlook he has wrought. His father resolutely avoids political discussions, he said. And in recent weeks, as the Chinese government has begun to bring the outbreak under control, his mother’s concerns about the government mishandling the crisis have receded, too.Still, Mr. Wu is realistic about the changes in outlook he has wrought. His father resolutely avoids political discussions, he said. And in recent weeks, as the Chinese government has begun to bring the outbreak under control, his mother’s concerns about the government mishandling the crisis have receded, too.
Soon, Mr. Wu may finally be able to leave Anhui and get back to campus. (His hometown is no longer under lockdown, but restrictions on arrivals in Beijing remain strict.)Soon, Mr. Wu may finally be able to leave Anhui and get back to campus. (His hometown is no longer under lockdown, but restrictions on arrivals in Beijing remain strict.)
He remains hopeful, though, that his conversations with his mother will continue.He remains hopeful, though, that his conversations with his mother will continue.
“It’s still hard to get her to totally change, but at least I got her to believe the government can do better,” he said.“It’s still hard to get her to totally change, but at least I got her to believe the government can do better,” he said.