In Wuhan and places close to the epicentre of the virus outbreak I have seen many people wearing these Bio Hazard suits when they are in hospital or maintaining a road block but I was surprised today to see a lonely token security guard wearing one. There is always a guard on duty here and he is really here more to answer questions I think. For most of the time I have been in Suzhou they will stand at the top of the stairs under this umbrella.

I saw him today because I was going to the bakery which is just down the stairs from where he is standing. In the bakery the workers are wearing normal clothes and the only hint that there is any problems is the face masks that they wear. So why is Mr Security Guard all dressed up in his Bio Hazard suit? Well I think it helps to keep the levels of fear and paranoia that are permeating the community right now. I know this CoronaVirus is serious but to dress like this I feel sends the wrong kind of message to the rest of the citizens.

When I entered the main gate to the community today they took my temperature and then asked for then asked for my ID which I showed them. I said you can take a photo but I am not giving you my passport. They then asked for a copy of my lease, it took me all my time not to tell them to Fuck Off. I said that I had registered with the police 2 years ago and you young girl can basically go away. Just then an older officer walked over and said something to her and waved me through, he must have seen my frustration or he recognised me.

I can’t remember if I mentioned before, but yesterday on the way home from the market I got off the bus and crossed over to the park where they told me I had to sign in. I can walk another 30 metres and then just walk in through another gate……..utter madness. Mind you in the old city is is now becoming harder to walk around freely. You are unable to walk through a residential area unless you have good reason too, so most people stay home.

If it’s not raining in the morning I’ll pop over to the park and then grab a bit to eat at the Muslim restaurant before the crowds get there and then it’s back to the house to put on the lounging thermals once more. But hopefully this will all change soon because I have booked a flight to Australia for the middle of March and if all goes well and they don’t cancel this flight I should be able to escape this madness for a while.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/FT4OMya7aafilhOBWdeXhA

Click this link to see the rules of Suzhou city at this time