Long Hospital Queues
According to official data from the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, apart from a total of 4 new imported cases on Aug. 1 and 7, there were no new local COVID-19 cases in Wuhan throughout August. On Aug. 15, the Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park held an electronic music pool party, reportedly attended by 3,000 people. The audience was packed, with no face coverings or social distancing rules in sight.But a Wuhan resident Wang Yuan (pseudonym) said he made observations that suggest the outbreak is still severe. Hundreds of people have lined up every day outside the infectious disease clinics of the Tongji Hospital and Union Hospital. “Right outside the hospital on the main street, you’ll see the queues. You can see them and take pictures at any time,” Wang said.
Wang also said some hospitals would not give a diagnosis to patients. He shared that a local community clinic doctor made a social media post on August 25, discussing a patient his clinic received that day. The post stated that the patient was a 31-year-old woman who became short of breath when she got out of bed on Aug. 22. The woman said she felt better after about 30 minutes. But she continued to have the same symptoms every day.
The doctor pointed out that her symptoms of this case are highly consistent with COVID-19, and added that the accuracy of nucleic acid tests is low. Meanwhile, antibodies may not appear during the early phase of infection, or the patient may be asymptomatic for more than ten days.
Market Closed
The Hankou Gusaoshu Fruit and Vegetable Market is within 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles) of the Huanan Seafood Market, which local authorities initially said was the source of the outbreak. Wang Yuan disclosed that the Hankou market was also a hard-hit area during the pandemic. On Aug. 30, the market was shut down by authorities, with a notice posted outside that said it would be renovated.Lockdown at Apartment Complexes
Wang also said some communities have experienced more and more stringent containment measures. “Half a month ago, a complex near Daishan village resumed containment measures. You must wear a mask when entering and leaving, and you must take your body temperature,” he said.The Epoch Times could not independently verify the information.
He also said if residents use their health insurance card to buy anti-fever medicines at local pharmacies, community officials would soon contact them and inquire about whether they are suspected to have COVID-19. “The big data is powerful,” Wang said.
“The pandemic is recurring all over the world. How can this place be over with it just like that?” Wang opined.