Israelis in China under the Corona virus: "Business is closed, people are sitting at home"

While the World Health Organization declared an emergency and Israel issued a travel warning, Ilya, who lives in Beijing, said "there is more panic outside China than here." He said life in the capital was halted, but residents began to get used to it. On the other hand, Sarit from Shanghai remained in the country: "The situation is worse than they thought"

Israelis in China under the Corona virus: "Business is closed, people are sitting at home"

In the background of the trip warning issued Friday by the Foreign Ministry for foreigners to China for fear of contracting the corona virus, Israeli civilians living in the outbreak have been told about the feelings in the country. Ilya Charmanich, a 37-year-old Israeli who has been living in Beijing for 12 years and runs a Chinese studies school, said citizens and the government are trying to prevent the virus from getting infected in any way. "Take all possible precautions here to prevent the spread of the virus. There are residential complexes that do not put people who do not live there, and for those who do - do heat tests at the entrance," he described. "Stairs are also disinfected and even shut down elevators, because when some people enter them, the chance of getting infected is increased."

So far, the virus has taken the lives of 213 people, mostly in China, and infected more than 7,000. Following the spread of the virus to another 18 countries, the World Health Organization announced an emergency yesterday. Charmanich said that in the Chinese capital "there was a moment of panic. People were afraid there wouldn't be enough food, didn't want to go to hospitals because they were afraid of getting infected with the virus, and the masks were running all over town." However, he said, "I think there is more panic outside China than here. Most businesses and schools are closed, and people are sitting at home. While this is an unusual routine, people are already getting used to it."

Read more on the subject

"Take every possible precaution." Beijing, today (Photo: Reuters)

Corona virus outbreak in Beijing, China, January 31, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

According to Charmanich, he is not currently concerned and does not plan to return to Israel. "Everyone writes to me and asks me when I'm coming back," he said. "There are a hundred people out of 20 million people here, that's nothing. So at the moment I'm not going to come to Israel. It seems to me that in two or three weeks it will calm down." Charmenich also protested against the decision of Minister of Health Jacob Litzman not to allow people to enter China. How can this be tested? If I come from Turkey, there's no way to check it, it's just. "

Foreign Ministry warns: Do not travel to China at this time for fear of contracting the Corona virus

Not going back to Israel. Charmnich (Photo: Courtesy of the photographer)

Ilya Charmanich who lives in Beijing, January 31, 2020 (Photo: Courtesy of the photographers)

In contrast, Sarit Xi, who has been living in Shanghai since last May, returned to Israel and expressed concern over what was going on in China. "Who would have thought that such a thing would happen to China? Everyone thought it would pass, it's much worse," she testified. "The climax was today when I saw groups of Chinese, people there raising cats and dogs, they decided to kill them because they thought they had a corona. They are unhappy, people have nothing to eat inside the houses, there is a shortage of food, that they will not say there is."

She said the publication of the travel warning was a kind of high point. "They are actually beginning to understand the situation, which is much worse than they thought," she explained. "For three weeks I have been trying to wake up all the systems and get out of apathy. I came to Israel to complete the transition process to China and because of the disease outbreak I did not return. I am lost, I have no job, I have no employment, I go out of my mind. Think you had a certain line of work and suddenly It's a course before your eyes. Even as soon as they manage to minimize the damage, it will take time for them to recover as after the Cultural Revolution.

"People have nothing to eat." Writer in Beijing, today (Photo: Reuters)

Corona virus outbreak in Beijing, China, January 31, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)