14-day Curfew in Hangzhou
So, I have been stuck in my apartment for the last week or so. That’s because I live in Hangzhou, China, and there are some restrictions in place.
I had a two-night trip from China to Cambodia recently. When I came back to Hangzhou, the gate guards at my apartment complex told me about the new restrictions. All this, of course, because of the coronavirus outbreak.
I was told I should stay home for the next 14-days. They told me the 14-day rule is not a complete house arrest though, I could leave my apartment if I needed to leave the country, or if I had a work trip.
I had to get a work-proof letter from my company explaining I work as a pilot. The letter would allow me to leave my apartment complex if necessary.
This was about a week ago, and things have actually changed since then…
Trips Before the Coronavirus
Before the news about the virus broke out, and before any travel restrictions were put in place, I had busy January. By January 20th, I had already logged 15 flights in my flight logbook for the year, which is quite a lot for corporate pilots.
Most of those flights departed or ended up in China. I stayed in probably a dozen different hotels in China during the period.
Luckily we didn’t have trips to Wuhan, but who knows, there might have been people from Wuhan all around us…
It’s hard to control the germ or viruses you might get when you stay in hotels. Especially when you use the gym, pool, breakfast buffets, or other public places in the hotels.
But I suppose I was lucky and didn’t catch any viruses during the trips. I’m still feeling healthy more than three weeks after those busy times.
Hainan Airlines flight attendant wearing a face mask.
Hainan Airlines flight full of people wearing face masks.
Traveling During the Chinese New Year
After the busy first few weeks of January, my wife and I flew to Wuhai (her hometown), Inner Mongolia, for the Chinese New Year. Yes, Wuhai, not Wuhan! Those two cities are probably a thousand miles apart, although the names are similar.
It was January 23rd, and the news about the virus had started to spread. Both of us prepared our Respro masks
We hadn’t used them for a long time because the air quality in Hangzhou has improved significantly during recent years, but they came handy during this crisis.
Just about everyone at the airport was wearing masks.
The lady at the check-in counter gave us our tickets without us removing the masks. At the security check, we had to briefly remove the masks for identification purposes. Otherwise, we had our masks on during the whole trip. All the cabin crew was also wearing masks. We were offered some inflight snacks, but we refused (as we usually do).
Three days later, on the way back, we were not even provided inflight snacks because the situation had gotten worse, and airlines wanted to discourage people from removing the masks during flights.
My wife and I at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport wearing our Respro Anti-Pollution Masks
Trying take a nap during Hainan Airlines flight to Wuhai. My neck pillow has a hood, which makes sleeping (and hiding my headphones) easier. 🙂
Trip Back to Hangzhou
After spending a few days with the inlaws, eating, drinking, and blowing up fireworks, we headed back to Hangzhou. At Wuhai airport, I got my temperature checked for the first time during this crisis. The security guys at the airport gates were checking everyone’s body temperatures from the forehead with one of those infrared guns.
Our return flight ended up in Shanghai because the flights to Hangzhou only go once or twice a week. We didn’t mind because, from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, we can take a high-speed train to Hangzhou. Depending on the train, it takes 45 minutes to one hour for the 200-kilometer journey.
I was afraid the train station would be chaotic, with thousands of people queuing in security and health checks. I was wrong; it was perhaps the most pleasant train ride I ever had. The whole train station was deserted. There was a quick security check as usual, but nothing out of the ordinary except that everyone was wearing face masks and many of the restaurants at the station were closed.
When we got to our train, we were the only passengers in the car. We could actually take our masks off during the ride! When we got to Hangzhou, we took the subway directly from the train station to the place where we live.
Again, there was plenty of space to sit — there were only a few people in the subway during the whole 30-minute ride.
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station during the coronavirus epidemic.
Chinese railway worker wearing a face mask during the coronavirus epidemic.
Empty railway car during coronavirus epidemic. I could finally remove my mask for a while.
Hangzhou subway Line 4 during the coronavirus outbreak.
Few Days at Home
For the next few days, I stayed home while more and more news was spreading about the virus. People were recommended to stay home, wear masks whenever they had to go out to public places, and wash their hands frequently. We only went to our local supermarket to buy food during those days, and everyone around us was wearing masks. Other than that, there were no restrictions on our movements.
Back to Work
A few days later, on February 2nd, I had to go back to work. I had a day trip to Hong Kong and back to Hangzhou. All our crew members and support staff were wearing masks at all times. Our company provided us more masks, and they keep providing them for every flight we do these days.
It felt ridiculous at first, but we decided to wear masks during flying also. We had heard that the incubation period of the coronavirus could be up to two weeks (or even more based on recent reports), so who knew if one of us was infected. Also, we didn’t know how exactly the virus was spreading, but we knew China had quarantined a whole city with millions of people, we decided it was better to be safe than sorry
Our headset microphones can pick-up our voices through the masks, so they didn’t affect our communications or other duties. We also had hand sanitizers in the cockpit, airplane bathrooms, and the cabin.
Based on other reports, frequent handwashing is probably a better way of preventing infections that using masks – so we figured to keep both masks and hand sanitizer available for us at all times.
In Hong Kong, we didn’t even leave the plane as we were simply picking up passengers. After dropping our passengers off at Ningbo, we had a crew car waiting for us to take us back to Hangzhou. Our aircraft stayed in Ningbo. It was only about a two-hour drive from Ningbo airport to my home in Hangzhou. Not bad.
Preflight inspection done for the Bombardier Global 6000.
Our flight crew was wearing mask all times during the trip.
The Ride Back to Hangzhou
There was not much traffic on the highway because travel between cities was being limited. There was a security check on each highway exit where our body temperatures were scanned from our foreheads. If they detected anything over 37.3 Celsius, you would have to go for follow up medical checks. Luckily none of us had any fever.
Getting home this time was kind of a pain. Our apartment complex has several entrances, but only one of them was now open. Also, the car entrance wouldn’t let through any cars that were not registered at the complex. At the only accessible entrance, the gate guards checked my temperature again. I also had to explain where I was coming from and where I lived.
Urgent Trip Two Days Later
I didn’t get to stay home for long. There was an urgent trip a couple of days later, and I had to go to Ningbo day before the flight. Again, our company sent us a car to take us to Ningbo. My temperature was rechecked at the highway exit, and one more time when I was checking in to Ningbo Sheraton Hotel.
The executive lounge, where I would normally get a free meal and drinks, was closed because of the virus. Instead, the hotel gave us some credit towards room service meals. Also, the breakfast buffet was closed. Instead of the buffet, we ordered our breakfast from the room service menu.
Our trip next morning was to Phnom Pehn, Cambodia, where we stayed two nights. Our temperatures were checked again at Ningbo airport, but otherwise, everything was smooth.
Everyone at Phnom Pehn airport was also using face masks, but there were no restrictions for people arriving from China. Our driver was also wearing a mask, so I guess the word about the virus was spreading. Many people in the city were wearing masks, but not everyone.
Our temperatures were checked at highway exits.
Our temperatures were checked at highway exits.
In Cambodia, I purchased a lot of hand sanitizer and some surgical masks. That stuff is difficult to come by in China these days.
Our flight crew in Cambodia.
Flying Back to China
We were supposed to fly back to Ningbo, but Ningbo airport imposed a rule canceling all private flights to the airport. We had to change our destination to Hangzhou, which was actually more convenient for me.
Back in Hangzhou, the airport was deserted – well deserted from people, but the ramp was full of airplanes because of many flight cancellations. The international terminal was completely empty; we had to wait for customs officers to let us through because there were no other passengers in the terminal.
People walking while wearing protective gear in Hangzhou.
Everyone is checked for fever in Chinese airports.
New Rules in Hangzhou
The guards at my apartment complex gate had more questions for me this time. They checked my temperature and gave me a form to fill. I had to fill in where I was coming from, my passport number, address, phone number, etc.
I was told to stay home for 14 days. That was a new rule in Hangzhou – you were supposed to self-quarantine for 14 days if you were coming out of town. I could, of course, still get food deliveries by the gate or visit the supermarket across the road when necessary.
But there were limitations on visiting the supermarket. I was told only one person per household was allowed to go shopping for necessities every two days.
QR Health Code Required in Hangzhou
That was a week ago, and things have changed since then. Now everyone is told to download the Alipay app to their phones. Just about everyone has the app already anyway. China is practically a cashless society, and everyone here uses either Alipay or WeChat for all payments. The app now has a health declaration form that everyone in Hangzhou needs to fill. Once your information is loaded in the app you will get a QR code that is scanned in certain places (subway stations, for example) if you travel within the city.
If the QR code is green, you are free to move around the city. If it’s orange, you would have to stay at home for 7 days, and if it’s red, you would have to stay home for 14 days. It’s all based on your declared travel history and medical condition. If you provide false information, you may face severe penalties (especially if you get sick or infect others).
My QR code is green, so I suppose it over rides the 14 day curfew that was issued to me by the gate guards.
Gate to our apartment complex in Hangzhou.
Guard in our apartment complex.
Security checkpoint at our complex gate.
Food delivery pick up point at our complex gate.
Staying Home
So, here I am. Staying in my apartment for the time being. With my green QR code, I could go out more, but personally, I don’t mind staying home until things get significantly better.
Some people say the peak of the epidemic is weeks or months away, while some people say the amount of infections is slowing down. I rather stay safe and avoid contact with other people as much as I can for the next few weeks.
Staying home gives me time to write my next book(s). The second book of my Pilot Career Series
We have plenty of food at home, and we can pick up food deliveries at the gate of our complex when needed. There is no need for us to leave our complex.
Also, we have a cross-trainer, some weights, and other exercise equipment at home, so we can stay active even inside.
I hope the situation will get better and back to normal soon because it certainly would be nice to go outside more. But for now, I will try to get things done at home the best I can. Unfortunately, I can’t control the aircraft from my home computer (yet), so I’ll have to head to the airport whenever I get a call to work.
Someone in our comlex may have a fever…
Kids can still play outside as long as they stay inside the complex.
The Coronavirus COVID-19
The official name of the coronavirus is COVID-19, which stands for the coronavirus disease that was discovered in 2019.
Statistics on February 14th, 2020
- Total confirmed cases: 64428
- 63922 in China
- 506 Global
- 1155 in Zhejiang (My home province)
- 165 in Hangzhou (My hometown)
- Deaths: 1491
- 1489 in China
- 2 Global
- Total Recovered: 7048
- 6986 in China
- 62 Global
New cases are reported everyday.
∼ FunkyPilot_ Vesa
My health code is green, so I can move around Hangzhou.
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Interesting post. Take care!
Thanks Jack!
Love your post. You are so brave! God bless you pilot.
Thank you Sharon!
Truly….this is a beneficial web-site.
Thanks, I’m glad you like it!
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