Nelson teacher adapts to life under virus lockdown
A Nelson teacher living in Hong Kong says the usually bustling city has been ‘‘like a perpetual weekend’’ as the coronavirus threat exerts its grip.
Craig Davies and wife Charlotte have been living in Hong Kong for five years, with Craig teaching at a school on Hong Kong Island that has been closed due to the virus threat.
So far, there have been 115 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, with three deaths.
Davies said that while people in the city had been living with the coronavirus threat for nearly two months, they were still on edge.
‘‘Initially, there was a lot of panic buying of masks and hand sanitiser. Then it got a bit crazy and it was loo rolls, rice, and the staples of the Hong Kong diet – that lasted maybe a week, but has blown over now.’’
He said that with fewer people working or out and about during the day, it felt ‘‘a little bit like a perpetual weekend’’.
‘‘It’s just a feeling where life’s not quite normal. We’re working, everything’s still running, and people are adjusting to the situation.’’
Davies said there was less pressure for the couple living out of the city on Lantau Island, where there was much lower population density.
Following a Hong Kong government directive, Davies’ school at Victoria Shanghai Academy has been closed for more than a month. It is not scheduled to reopen to students until mid-April.
He said teachers had been trying to teach remotely as best they could, but the situation was tough on both students and parents.
‘‘My job is trying to get them away from the computer, keep them healthy and active. We’ve got kids who haven’t been allowed to leave the house for two weeks, and others who are down at the playground – it all depends on the parent.’’
Davies said that when out and about, there was a strong social pressure to be seen to be ‘‘doing the right thing’’, particularly with wearing masks.
‘‘You’ve got to be more careful about other people. We went to the movie theatre and everyone had to wear one – even though as soon as you got in there, you could take it off to eat your snacks. They didn’t mind that, it was almost just about saving face.’’
He said the outbreak hadn’t changed the couple’s plans to stay on in Hong Kong.
‘‘We haven’t decided to travel, because we don’t want to put other people in danger. Being on an airplane and going to the airports doesn’t appeal at the moment.’’