Life in Quarantine: Week 8

Thank you so much for your interest in my life and experiences in Shanghai! As things have begin improving, I’ve looked back at all the loving and supportive messages I received. Thank you all so much! I want this blog to share as a message of hope to all of you that while the covid-19 situation is difficult and trying, things will improve. They may not improve as quickly as in China, but if you’ve been following the last 7 entries of my blog, you can see the arc of improvement. If you haven’t been following along with my blog, please check out these entries.

https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-1/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-2/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-3/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-4/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-5/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-6/
https://astronomerinshanghai.com/uncategorized/life-in-quarantine-week-7/

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Life in Shanghai

Before I begin this week’s update, I want to offer words of support and encouragement to all of my readers. I hope that you and your families and friends are healthy and safe. I know how difficult self-quarantine and isolation can be. Although, the situation has drastically improved here in Shanghai, I know that many of you are now dealing with working from home and forced quarantine/isolation. As I’ve documented here, this has not been an easy time for me. However, I know you can and will make the best out of this difficult situation. So, I want to reassure all of you that things will get better, eventually life will return to normal. However, I also want to caution you that things may take longer to improve in the US and other countries than here in China. The Chinese government took drastic draconian actions to lock down the country and enforce social distancing and ban travel.

As I’ve documented here, in my opinion, my personal best advice is to make the best out of what is clearly a difficult situation, whether that’s cooking more, connecting with friends via skype or the telephone, or getting caught up on tv, make sure you take some time to relax and stay calm. As I did last week, I want to share some tips that I follow for how to best stay safe.

1. Social distancing is important. Avoid large crowds. This doesn’t mean you can’t go to the grocery store, but don’t go out to bars or go to places where there are large gatherings. Importantly, this means don’t travel, especially for leisure vacations! Now is not the time to go to airports or to go on vacation.
2. Wash your hands!!! Everyone must wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, particularly after being outside.
3. Continue to eat healthy and exercise. As I’ve done the last few weeks, you can go running or if you don’t run, do yoga or body weight exercises in your home.
4. Don’t isolate yourselves. Talk with your family and friends using FaceTime. Depending on where you are you may be able to get together with 1-2 people.
5. Don’t read the sensationalist news. Follow sensible news sources and listen to trained professionals, not the current administration. The Atlantic has been publishing a lot of really good and informative news articles.

I hope these tips alleviate some of the anxiety I know you are feeling. I’m nervous for you all and I remain nervous about the situation here. Despite the situation improving in Shanghai, as people return to China (from abroad), there have been many new imported cases here. If you want to know more about my experience or any of the precautions that I’ve taken, please reach out and ask. Given all the love and support I received from you all, I want to extend my support and help to you.

I do want to emphasize that I remain healthy and safe here in Shanghai. The situation in the city is definitely improving. The sentiment and energy in the city is improving. People are now out and about more than they have been, going to parks (picture was intentionally not crowded) and also even playing basketball! It’s been amazing seeing Shanghai reawaken, especially with the beginning of Spring.

In terms of the numbers, the number of new cases in Shanghai has unfortunately increased by a lot this week. However, nearly all of these have been imported cases, people who are sick (and asymptomatic) returning to Shanghai via airplanes. There are now 394 cases of covid-19 in Shanghai (70 more than last week). Currently of those, 63 are active. So, the recovery rate is currently at 83%. For China as a whole, the recovery rate is at ~ 89%. In Shanghai, many of these cases are new, so I believe that number will increase over time. However, I want to emphasize that of those 63 active cases 55 of them come from people traveling abroad (mostly Chinese nationals returning from the US and Europe). I implore all of you not to travel. The easiest way to spread this virus is to travel. Airports are crowded and many people don’t know that they’re sick because they’re asymptomatic. To alleviate the situation, upon arrival in Shanghai, as of 3/22/2020, people arriving from 24 of the most seriously affected countries (including the US) are required to do 14 days of self-quarantine, regardless of whether they are sick. Additionally, all arriving passengers are tested for covid-19. So, Shanghai is imposing strict limitations to help curtail the virus. While these actions may seem extreme, they are necessary.

On a more positive note, the government has lifted the order requiring residents to wear masks. However, the vast majority of people still are (myself included). I wear the mask mostly out of solidarity. I want to emphasize that wearing masks in East Asia is generally done when people are sick (with colds or the flu), so this idea exists within the culture. As discussed earlier, the mask may help halt the spread of the virus, but not prevent it. In addition, for the last few weeks, each time you enter a building, you have your temperature taken and get a squirt of hand sanitizer. Additionally, in Shanghai, every resident now has a personal QR code, through Alipay, that is updated as to whether you are healthy or not (based on government and hospital records). While this may seem like a lot, it’s really not bad and has become part of my day-to-day life. I hope that the US will consider taking these kinds of actions to keep people safe.

As I’ve done for the past two months, I’ve continued to work from home. I’m still making progress on my research even if I don’t have any noteworthy results this week. I’ve been working on my first DES project, finally making some small steps forward. I also finished a draft of my paper for another project that I’m working on. So, even though I’m working from home, I’ve still been productive. I know that all of you can be as well. 🙂 In terms of my research group, I’ve continued to have weekly meetings within the Zu Group. It’s been nice getting to hear and see some of the research that some of Prof. Ying Zu’s graduate students are working on. Additionally, for the past three weeks, SJTU has done Zoom colloquiums (which are in English). While it’s been very interesting hearing about the research, I find that it’s much easier for me to get distracted when the talk is on my computer. Also, during this week’s meeting, Ying mentioned that SJTU is talking about reopening, so maybe by mid-to-late April/May the University will reopen. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Chinese Academic Calendar, the semester goes until July.

As things have started to return to normal here, my life has continued to return closer to my old routines. I’m still able to get delicious and fresh vegetables and other foods. For this weeks cooking, I made tofu burgers and Cauliflower/white bean chowder. Additionally, It was very warm this week, in the mid-70s and even 80 (on Saturday). So, I went running 3 times! As many of you know, I love running, so having the opportunity to get outside (even wearing a mask) is something I treasure. During my runs and walks this week, I was surrounded by the natural beauty in many of the small parks that surround Shanghai. Shanghai is really beautiful in the Spring!

Additionally, I’ve continued to get together with small groups of friends. On Tuesday, I got together with my friends Hannah Maia and Casey for ice cream! Then on Friday, a group of us (mostly the regular Shabbat dinner crew) got together to enjoy a lovely Shabbat dinner.

On Sunday, I hung out with my friends Heather and Shimi for the afternoon. We got lunch and walked around the Huangpu and Xintiandi neighborhoods! One of the things that I’m most grateful for is the wonderful friendships that I’ve made during the covid-19 situation. I’m so glad that this situation brought us together. We got lunch at a food mall (in China, many malls have great restaurants, unlike in the US). Outside, there were decorations and advertisements reminiscent of some very familiar things! I was thrilled to see The Beatles and Snoopy!

In addition, during my walks this week, I saw a lot of other cool sculptures and artwork!

Food in Shanghai

I had two fantastic meals with friends this week! First there was Shabbat dinner on Friday!

We had a noodle dish, cauliflower, a vegetable curry, another noodle and bean sprout/veggie dish, tofu and eggplant (my favorite), a vegetable salad, and not pictured a delicious lentil dish and freshly baked naan bread.

On Sunday, I finally returned to a vegan restaurant for lunch! I love going to the vegan restaurants to try so many of the exciting and new dishes! As I’ve shown you before, the Chinese food is both similar and different to what you can get in the US. Some places, like Grasshopper in Boston are similar (except the portions are smaller here).

We had tofu skins, wheat gluten (a spongier version of seitan), eggplant (which melts in your mouth), kung pao seitan, and lion’s head mushrooms (which was great!). I look forward to sharing more vegan food with you all soon!

Jewish Life in Shanghai

As noted above, for Shabbat, I got together with friends to celebrate. In addition, Kehilat Shanghai and Kehilat Beijing are still doing Zoom Shabbat blessings and candle lightings. While now, I am mostly connecting with the Jewish community in person, I’m glad that the zoom candle lightings and interactions are continuing, especially since many community members are scattered around the globe. I’m happy to see that many other Jewish communities are doing Zoom services as well. A great way to stay connected during this time.

Additionally, this week, a group of Kehilat Shanghai board members met to plan our celebration of Passover. We’re excited that things have improved so that we are able to gather together for a community seder. I’m also going to be helping to lead and organize the Seder, so this won’t be the last mention of Passover here. While I know it’s a few weeks away, I hope that everyone who observes Passover is able to celebrate in a way they find meaningful.

As we’ve now reached 2 months of semi-self-imposed quarantine, I’m glad that I’m able to make the most out of my new normal lifestyle. So far, things continue to improve here and hopefully that trend persists and spreads throughout the world. Remember everyone can do something to help flatten the curve.

I hope that this update about the covid-19 situation in Shanghai and how I’ve dealt with it and continue to deal with it provides comfort and assurance that things will get better. Take social distancing seriously, it’s the best way to slow the spread of covid-19. I plan to continue working each day on my research from home this week. I look forward to updating you about my life and adventures next week! If you have any questions/comments or concerns about Shanghai or the current situation, let me know! If you need advice for dealing with a more isolated life, please reach out. Given all the support I’ve received from you, I’d love to provide the same.

In peace,
Jesse