SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2020 ‘TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY’ Gisborne woman Kim Jenson moved to China 10 years ago and has lived through the worst of the Covid-19 outbreak. She tells reporter Kim Parkinson of her experience living in Guangzhou, and offers some advice for New Zealanders now in lockdown. Kim Jenson (right) with her husband and a friend. Picture supplied im Jenson is an early years teacher schools were shut down, movie theatres and “Already there had been reports of code that can be scanned and used for at an international school and lives community places were closed. communities killing pets and animals in fear tracking purposes. For example the code with her husband and two dogs It was a very quick and efective reaction by of them spreading the virus, even though the information is logged in when you go into Kon the 25th loor of an apartment the government, she said. SPCA and WHO released statements saying a mall and if anyone who was there on the building in the city of Guangzhou. In the cities people began to wear masks this was not true. Although we have a great same day as you is later reported to have She said there was no real panic when the and avoided crowded public places and kennel I did not want to leave my dogs just the virus, you can be quickly tracked and irst cases of coronavirus were discovered in everything was constantly disinfected. in case something happened and we couldn’t contacted about the situation.” Wuhan. “We weren’t allowed to visit friends who get back into the country. At the end of January the whole of China “It was just a sickness happening up north lived in other apartment complexes and our “Slowly it got better as businesses reopened went into lockdown. somewhere. hen it spread really fast in school was in touch with the teachers about and more people started to go outside. “We didn’t venture far from our apartment Wuhan, too fast for the hospitals and doctors any new laws in place to keep us updated. Of “I still report my temperature to the school complex and did not go into the city. My to keep up. People started dying and then it course, we followed the rules.” every day and there is also a health QR code school discouraged us from going outside was all around China.” Ms Jenson said a lot of their friends left on a Chinese social media app that everyone except to get essential items and people all China immediately put rules and action the country as the situation worsened but must keep updated. over the city and country stayed at home. into place to ensure the safety of the nation. they stayed put, not wanting to leave their “At least every seven days you ill in your here were temperature checks everywhere, dogs. health information, receive a personal QR CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PROPERTY OWNERS Do you have a short-term rental that is now empty? No more holiday bookings? Not sure what to do next? My team is ready to step in and help you make the move to long-term renting. We are Gisborne’s specialist property managers. Call me today! Graham Faulkner on 021 120 4653. CANCELLATION Ltd 32060-01 2 THE GISBORNE HERALD LEAD Kim (left) and a friend doing The plastic wrap over the elevator buttons yoga outside in her garden. in Kim’s building is changed every day. Kim’s advice: take up a hobby FROM PAGE 1 would have no problem reporting them hey avoid crowded places like trains and that this would be considered a and don’t touch unnecessary things in “he streets were so quiet. It became criminal ofence. shops. illegal not to wear a mask outside in “My school was awesome as they “We became very conscious on how public. People who didn’t were shunned, provided meals and helped those in germs spread. We also made sure we ate reported and even arrested.” isolation get essential items. healthy food and exercised.” Ms Jenson said during the peak “At least in New Zealand most people Although she wasn’t isolated by time of the virus spreading, the city have backyards — being stuck inside herself, Kim said it got lonely and was completely shut down. his was a a small apartment on the 25th loor boring because a lot of their friends massive feat since Guangzhou has more without being able to go outside would had left the country. than 13 million people and the province be awful.” “If I wasn’t teaching online classes or has more than 100 million. hings are now slowly returning to preparing online lessons, I was doing “But everyone did their part. normal, she said. yoga, reading, pottering around the Restaurants were closed, most shops “here is still caution about going apartment and doing odd chores that were shut, no one was outside. It was out or being in crowded places, and never got done, or I watched old movies eerie. everyone still wears masks outside, and from my childhood. “At the beginning there was a mild in every shop or restaurant we visit they “My husband played video games, panic and it was near impossible to check our temperature, take our phone worked online and cooked. get fresh vegetables unless you were numbers and names and scan the QR “Some days were better than others up at 6am, and water bottles were code. But the city is opening up again. and occasionally there were days with a disappearing of the shelves (we can’t “here is no school yet but we are lot of anxiety and stress especially when drink water from the taps here). preparing to open.” a new law or restriction was introduced. “All of this happened at the tail-end She hopes it will be soon as she is “Other days were illed with fun and A notice in Chinese from the World Health Organisation of the Chinese New Year and many missing her students and wants to get good times with the friends who were stating there is currently no evidence pets carry Covid-19, released shortly after reports of many pets being workers who were in their hometowns back to class. still here. abandoned or killed. did not return to the cities, which In terms of coping with living in “I’m still having to ill my days but slowed down a lot of services like lockdown, Ms Jenson said she would there is more freedom now to travel deliveries. recommend people get a hobby. domestically and go into the city. “However, once people realised the “I chose yoga and ten weeks later I’m “I have friends in Italy and America shelves were always restocked and no- getting pretty good at it. It takes your where the virus is spreading so fast one was going to go hungry or thirsty, mind of things and gives you a goal. and thousands are becoming infected. things calmed down. McDonald’s and “Make sure you have a daily routine. Take this seriously, be conscious of KFC remained open during everything Don’t sleep until 3pm. Have a schedule your health and stay safe so this doesn’t so all was not lost.” and stick to it. happen in New Zealand.” Some of their friends who returned “Accept this is happening now but She said she was always homesick for from abroad had to spend 14 days in it will soon be over or will at least get New Zealand and had hoped to come their apartments in self-isolation. better. back next summer. But with the school “hey were visited by the police and “Download Zoom and get friends and term being extended and the borders medical staf and tested. hey had a family to download it too. It’s a great closed, that was unlikely. note on their door that showed their way to keep in touch.” “I imagine they will keep the borders isolation end-date and no-one could To keep themselves safe, the Jensons closed as long as there is a global threat visit them. alway wash their hands when they so I can’t go anywhere for a while “We were told that if anyone broke come back inside. hey wear masks because I won’t be able to get back in. A care package from Kim’s school which included masks, isolation, people in the community outside and don’t stand close to people. “Hopefully, this will all be over soon.” disinfectant and handsoap. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2020 3 PROFILE GOODBYE BLUES: Now a Gisborne local Daryn Mcbride has found love and a fresh lease of life in his new home. Picture supplied Out of the black and into the blue Having made Gisborne his home, life is on the upswing for artist- graphic designer-surfer Daryn Mcbride who is as open about his struggle with mental health as he is about his passion for surfi ng and MILK, NO SUGAR: Longboarder Daryn Mcbride enjoys the feel alive fl avour of art, as he explains to Mark Peters. a cup of tea while hanging 10 in a pre- lockdown moment in the surf. Picture by Colin Mckenny or someone who has lived with paper, made pigments from raw materials “I intended to come back to Gisborne once and parties where everything was on. e depression and anxiety all his life, such as mud and charcoal and has built a tree I got my life back.