Dealing with COVID: Observations from Qingdao, December 2020
I recently posted a picture of an experiential education trip that I took with a group of students on Facebook. The image, a group of students and myself on an overlook on a windy day. We had hiked from our lodging up to see a small temple which was revered by the local people. When we arrived there, there was a beautiful overlook where we could see the Yellow Sea, the village, and the surrounding area. It was a windy day and we had a school flag flying as well as trying to stay warm. In any other year, this would have gotten the standard likes, thumbs up, and friends commenting on the great trip.
“No masks?”
That was one of the responses. Of course, there were the standard responses, but this one was interesting. A couple of friends picked up on this and messaged me privately about not wearing masks. Why were we allowed to not wear masks? Shouldn’t we be wearing masks? How is it that you can hike and not wear masks with that group of students? These are all pretty standard questions I have received over the last few months living in China. One friend, who wrote more extensively, wanted to know my thoughts on whether the US will get out of this or not based on my experience.
I preface all of this with, I am living in Qingdao, China. I am an international educator working at a private international school. I have been in China most recently since March. I am going to attempt to keep this response apolitical as well since there is enough finger-pointing and blame to go around right now. So, friends, this is where I am at.
Current State
We are generally not required to wear masks in the city of Qingdao and the province of Shandong right now. The city is mostly back to normal daily life. All shops and stores are open. The beaches were open for people. The mountain is open for hiking. Malls are open to people though fewer people are shopping in them than normal. In almost all aspects of daily life, we have returned to normal.
There are high risk areas in China. They are labelled by the government and a message is sent out to businesses. These high-risk areas are where COVID spikes have happened. They are identified by region, city, and even local area when they are reported. Businesses then ask their employees, and yes school families, if they have travelled to the region or if any family members have experienced symptoms. I should note that high-risk areas are limited and generally seem to be low numbers of infection rates in the region. By low, I have not heard of more than 100 infections in any one area as of this writing.
Masks
Yes, we are expected to wear masks when we go out. We are generally required to wear masks on public transportation and in taxis. If we go into a store or a mall, it is also an expectation that masks are worn, though recently, even that expectation has been lightened. It does vary based on the seasonal flus and concern about COVID, but generally masks are not required in malls and definitely not required outdoors.
At school, because everyone has been temperature checked and tested, masks are fully optional. Some students choose to wear them. Some teachers as well. But there is no requirement to wear masks on campus.
Contact Tracing
We are required to have contact tracing on our phones. Until recently, we were literally not allowed in stores if we could not show our QR code for contact tracing. This is regional and, if you travel somewhere else, you have to get a new contact tracing application through WeChat.
This was and still is required for travel in China. If we want to get on a train or plane, we have to show the QR code. Most malls and stores still require the code to be shown entering the doors. Some stores are more vigilant than others and will still require the QR code for entrance, but not all stores.
Local Concerns about COVID
Yes, there is a heightened sense of concern about COVID. The region and city I am in has a more heightened sense of awareness and response at the present time. The government and people still have fairly strict measures in place to monitor the safety and spread of disease in the city.
People are aware of the concerns of COVID. They are still cautious though admittedly, people are less concerned now than they were in the past months. We have become a bit familiar with the measures and have let our guard down. That is not to say we have ignored the concerns, but that things are freer than they were. People are going to the mall in large numbers. People are more willing to walk closer to other people. Fewer masks are being worn. Nothing is closed and everything is open for normal business.
Keep in mind, when we had a significant spike in Qingdao about 2 months ago. The entire city was tested, yes over 9 million people were tested. The significance of the spike? Less than 20 people in all tested positive. Not 20 in one day, 20 people in total. That activated city-wide testing for every human.
Entering China
If you come to China now, your first challenge is to get here. Flights are regularly cancelled. I just spoke with a teacher who is trying to get back to Qingdao and said his biggest issue was cancelled flights.
Before you leave for China, you are required to have at least 1 negative COVID test within 24 hours of entering the country. Then, upon arrival, you will quarantine for 14 days, and you will pay for the government hotel. In that time, you will be required to have a minimum of 3 COVID tests. Once you finish quarantine, if you are lucky enough to be in the city you live, you are done. If not, you must travel to your own city, take 2–3 more COVID tests, then typically wait 7 days before returning to work. Yes, that is correct, 21 days from entering the country to starting work. Once you enter the country and clear the requirements, things are generally normal.
Life Now
Simply put, life right now is, well normal. Yes, masks are expected, but not required except certain places. Yes, we have to do temperature checks. Yes, because we are foreigners we do get questioned more about where we have been and such. However, life is normal.
Last night, we had our school staff party with over 250 people in one room laughing, singing, and enjoying being together as a community. No one wore masks except the hotel staff. No one was concerned about the spread of COVID. We went to a local pub afterwards, had a pint of beer, and enjoyed being around people.
Life has returned to normal here in China. Why? Simple, the government set requirements, and people followed them.
Yes, mass quarantines and lockdowns were a real thing. Yes, mass testing is a real thing. Yes, contact tracing is a real thing and required. No, you did not enter businesses if you did not have a mask and you were escorted out of stores, I know someone it happened too. People valued other people.
In Asia, masks are not seen as a personal rights issue. They are seen as a way to protect you from my illness. No, they are not perfect in keeping viral spread away. However, science does show that people wearing masks and washing hands, greatly reduces the spread of an infection in a population.
Even though some individuals have felt it necessary to make negative comments about me living in China, I am glad I am here. While not a perfect response to this outbreak, China has modeled a solid response. They have experienced viral outbreaks before and have learned how to respond effectively. Is it a comfortable response? No, it wasn’t. Businesses shut down for periods of time and struggle. But, those same businesses are back open now and recovering. Plus, we only shut down once.
I watch my home country and state struggle with the response to this pandemic. Sadly, I continue to see the personal rights issue outweigh personal responsibility to keep others safe. It is a choice we make, but all choices have consequences. As we have observed in this pandemic, sometimes our personal choices have far reaching affects.
Stay safe and healthy friends.
