EVERYTHING TONED DOWN: FIJIAN STUDENT IN CHINA

AFijian student studying Masters of civil engineering in Wuhan City, China, is confident of the measures put in place by the Chinese health authorities following the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Varun Kapoor has also refuted claims of food scarcity in the city, which have been reported by international media.

Wuhan City is the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, which started in December last year. Mr Kapoor said everyone took precautionary measures as the city was in lockdown.

He lives in his dormitory at Wuhan University. “There is a chill atmosphere at the supermarkets and we are not scarce in the food department or neither are people grabbing or acting crazy with panic,” Mr Kapoor said.

“People need to know the truth and the truth is that there is calmness and everything has toned down.”

Mr Kapoor also said medical teams in Wuhan were working around-the-clock looking after the victims and trying to find a cure for the virus. He has assured Fijians that students studying in China were co-operating with authorities in ensuring their wellbeing.

“If anyone has loved ones in Wuhan and around China, believe me when I say they are doing their best to keep them safe from contracting the virus and we are all safe,” Mr Kappor said. Concerned mother, Shammi Narayan, said her son had been in China for eight years and some reports she had read about the conditions in Wuhan had caused her to panic.

“I was worried about my son’s health, but not until I got to hear from him about the situation on the ground. I would be grateful if media reports do not instil fear on others especially concerned parents like me, just report positively and help everyone fight this epidemic,” Ms Narayan said.