Wuhan ‘cabin fever’ leads to violence
A MAN stuck in a small housing compound in China has described how people are suffering from “cabin fever” and mental health issues after spending more than 50 days together.
Joetoan, 52, a US citizen flew intowuhan, where the coronavirus first appeared, for his wedding to girlfriendyvonne Luo, 36, on January 22.
But he was placed into lockdown in her parents’ hometown of Xianning, 60 miles south of the city, the following day.
Earlier this month Joe was attacked by a neighbour with a lump of concrete after they disagreed over virus containment.
Joe confronted the man after seeing him repeatedly spit in the street outside where he is staying.
He said: “My Chinese isn’t that great but he understood me. Next thing I know he’s insulting me and telling me to go home, I’m not welcome here.
“Then his brother came out and they came at me. I was punched in the eye by his brother and pulled to the ground by him. He jumped on top of me and there was a piece of concrete next to me that he picked up and started hitting me in the head with it.”
Police arrived but due to the virus no one can be taken into custody and the offender was later released back into the same housing compound.
Joe added: “Life is somewhat surreal with the lockdown. I’m thrown together with two other families and cannot leave the compound. Nothing is open, only a few markets that deliver groceries.
“In our community a select few get passes from the government to leave and pick up the food. Mental health is not normally discussed in Chinese culture but now it seems necessary for people to talk with counsellors so that’s a big change.
“The day to day is pretty mundane. Chinese aren’t allowed to congregate in groups so there’s no ma zhang (Chinese dominos). However, this is enforced only by neighbours ratting on you.
“People are online a lot, kids are now doing online classes as well and the government has pre-recorded generic classes ontv for different age groups.
“Many people are getting cabin fever and tempers can flare being around relatives 24/7.”
After being unable to return to the US, Joe has lost his job at an autonomous car testing company.