For fear of COVID exposure, Caroline Quinn, a longtime resident in Shekou in Nanshan District and general manager of Sinodyne Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., who unfortunately developed shingles, found a way to improve her situation amid the city’s tightened measures in curbing the spread of the virus.
Through online consultations and payment, Quinn, who is already in serious condition, got her medication from the Hong Kong University Shenzhen Hospital.
“The service is incredibly efficient, convenient and impressive. I got the medicines through courier in two hours after the treatment,” Quinn said in a phone interview yesterday.
The lockdown that started Monday didn’t change much of Quinn’s daily life. “It’s fine with the lockdown as we were prepared and had stocked up a little bit with food beforehand. The lockdown is well organized. We get frequent information and updates via different WeChat groups that provide English information to foreigners. The daily testing is also very convenient as it is down in the compound and the queues have not been too long,” Quinn said.
On the other hand, Quinn was a little sad because her daughter was unable to celebrate her 18th birthday properly with her friends. But compared with many turmoils going on around the world, Quinn said it was a minor inconvenience.
“Shenzhen is becoming known worldwide, and all my friends are calling — very worried about the situation. I reassure them that Shenzhen is well organized and so far, things are under control. We have excellent information, well-organized testing and we can get ahold of necessary supplies, thanks to the work and efforts of the city administration to keep the city safe for the benefit of everyone living here,” Quinn said.
She said she hoped that things will return to normal as soon as possible.
“I feel fortunate to have been in Shenzhen in the past two years. Apart from the initial disruption when the pandemic first broke out in 2020, we have enjoyed a relatively normal life while the rest of the world has greatly suffered. We know many people in the local government who are working really hard to keep the city safe and we are extremely grateful for everyone’s efforts,” Quinn said.
Omicron is highly contagious and if China were to allow the virus to run its natural course like many countries around the world are now doing, it would have a very detrimental effect on vulnerable groups of people, Quinn said.