The epidemic has been going on for more than two years since the beginning of 2020, with no sign of stopping, at least in China. This is a major event in history, and I haven't really thought deeply about it, so I decided to write something to solidify my thoughts. When the epidemic is over in the future, I can look back on it.
The current situation is that I spent the Qingming Festival in a locked-down Shanghai. How serious is it? The latest daily report data on April 6 showed nearly 20,000 new cases, surpassing the situation in Wuhan. Shanghai has more people, so the lockdown will be stricter and longer.
There are definitely impacts on daily life. One thing I like is working from home, which allows me to sleep a little longer and saves at least an hour and a half of commuting time every day. I can even take a nap at noon and do my own things. This is great. So in the future, companies that allow permanent remote work, like Google, are the ones I admire.
In terms of daily necessities, the challenge lies in food. During home isolation, I have to cook almost every meal myself, which can be tiring. It takes over an hour to prepare, but only ten minutes to eat. I cook twice a day, and it feels like the time spent commuting is now used here. Food supplies are tight, and prices have increased significantly. Currently, there is no shortage of food, but there is always a sense of worry about running out of supplies.
After eating, there is a longing for the outside world. I jokingly say that in some ways, it's not as good as being in prison, where at least there is time for outdoor activities every day. Now, the average living space per person where I live is 15 square meters, and after a month, I feel suffocated. Even in good weather, I can only lie by the window and look outside. Seeing the moments shared by friends in other places and abroad on social media makes me yearn for it. Although I didn't have much time to go out and play even when I was working every day, losing the freedom to do so now feels fundamentally different. This loss of freedom is truly frightening.
Looking at it from a broader perspective, two to three years is not a short time. For working individuals or the elderly, two to three years may just be another period of hard work or staying at home every day. But for a student who has just entered university, this period might be the best time of their life, and it has passed just like that.
Another thing that the epidemic has caused is the muddiness of public opinion and information overload. There is too much information, and people don't have time to distinguish between true and false, let alone verify it. There are countless types of information circulating, ranging from good to bad, correct to incorrect, partially true to biased, with ulterior motives, rumors, refutations, repeated discussions, personal attacks, complaints without solutions, complaints with incorrect solutions, and so on.
My current views or principles are as follows:
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The epidemic in China will eventually pass, either through coexistence or herd immunity, and it may not be far off. At least until the virus's virulence (mortality rate, incidence of after-effects) or transmission capability decreases to a level acceptable in China; until medical resources in all corners of the country can cope or no longer face shortages; or until a highly effective specific drug is available.
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Some people support opening up, downplaying the severity of after-effects, but I don't have time to verify it. Even if the person is an authority or a well-known figure, I would first ask if they are willing to be infected voluntarily. If so, I would take the time to verify their claims and decide whether to believe them.
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Before the above conditions are met, I will do everything possible to ensure that myself and my family do not contract COVID-19.