Benoni siblings staying positive in heart of coronavirus outbreak

Rynfield residents Bianca (34) and Jay Nel (28) are keeping a positive mindset in Henan province, Zhengzhou City, one of the areas hardest hit by the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

The coronavirus has infected hundreds since the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December and the deadly virus has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation, claiming over a thousand lives since it surfaced.

The brother and sister moved to China to teach but the outbreak has resulted in the closure of schools around China, as instructed by the provincial government.

Jay said that schools are waiting for the Educational Bureau to notify them of the official opening date.

They described their daily life under the coronavirus lockdown as boring, to say the least.

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“We are going. To be honest, it’s quite depressing if you can’t keep your mindset positive all the time,” he said

Jay explained before the China Spring Festival they were all on holiday, not knowing that a two-week holiday will turn out to be one month and counting.

“We were at first under isolation, then we had to leave a friend’s apartment back to Bianca’s apartment where they are very strict.

“Here, we got placed under quarantine for the next 14 days.

“Bianca had to prepare food for quarantine period and we already ran out of drinking water. We cooked tap water daily to have drinking water as we are not allowed to leave our apartment at all, not even to take the trash down,” said Jay.

According to Jay, they have security and health checks at every building and supermarket to take your temperature and they have restricted public transport.

Only a few supermarkets were opened.

“You cannot leave your apartment without wearing a face mask and are advised that if you are not under quarantine you should constantly sanitise and wash your hands.”

They have tried to use their free time wisely by reading. Bianca is trying to improve her linguistic and cooking skills, while Jay is trying to keep fit by exercising.

They both agreed that they miss their home country and would love to visit but they are hopeful that school will resume shortly.

Bianca said most of her South African friends in China have gone back home.

“I think one of the biggest issues causing panic among South African expats in China isn’t the actual virus but all the misinformation and sensational news shared all over social media.

“Don’t even get me started on the unnecessary hate speech aimed towards Chinese people,” Jay said.

Bianca said she gets regular updates on notices from the Chinese government.

Despite the situation, Bianca is enamored of her adoptive country.

“China has been so good to me the past almost two years.

“There’s just so much to love and appreciate, I am so thankful that I get to spend my days with children that have so much love to give,” she said.

Their mother, Zenda Nel, is anxious about her only two children facing the current epidemic in China.

Bianca added that their mother is currently under severe stress about the situation, as no one can tell when this situation will be under control.

“We are living by the grace of God. We had planned for our mother to visit us in June but with this pandemic, we are unsure if our plans will work out.”

They want to assure her that they are doing okay and pray to see her in June, if not, Jay will come home at the end of 2020, while Bianca remains a standing soldier in China.

“We just want to thank every single person in SA for all their prayers and especially to those who are in constant contact with us all the time,” they said.