The special journey between COVID-19 quarantines

After being trapped in Hubei for 9 weeks, the day before yesterday, I finally got a chance for the 7th special train (1,135km/4.5 hrs) back to Beijing. It is the second day of my strict self-isolation in Beijing.

1. The Hubei-Beijing special train runs smoothly. Some people wore full-body protective clothing and some took off masks to smoke secretly.
2. In seat ABC, I and a lady beside me took seat BC respectively. Passenger A by the window probably missed the train and became an empty seat there. The lady looked at seat A, then looked at me. Understanding her eyes, I tacitly changed to seat A and the lady certainly nodded with satisfaction… A few minutes later she took off her mask to answer a phone call.
3. Very different from the previous trips, almost no one chatted during the whole journey.
4. When the train arrived at Beijing West Railway Station, there was a big banner “Welcome back to Beijing (欢迎回京)”, and a staff shouted “Welcome home, Beijing is also your home (欢迎回家，北京也是你们的家)”.
5. After going out of the station, according to the administrative region where the residential community is located, they verified our identities in batches, registered again, and distributed us centrally. The crowd was dense but orderly.
6. There are 12 seats in the diverging car, but only 6 seats was taken for distancing us.
7. The staff distributed epidemic prevention kits, including thermometers, drinking water, sachets, wet tissues, and a letter beginning with “my family has been absent for a long time, and the unannounced outbreak prevented you from coming back”.
8. Five staff members of the community have been waiting at the intersection 50 meters away from the entrance of the community. Several security guards at the entrance are not as scared and dodge as the passing residents.
9. The staff installed exclusive surveillance cameras in front of the door in advance. The detailed quarantine requirements and disciplinary regulations were informed at the door, and the seal was affixed.
10. I intended to pick up the express by myself after the quarantine period, but the security guard was worried that I needed it urgently and insisted on helping to deliver it to my home.
11. Predictably, there may be some changes in cooking and weight over the next few days.
    

The planet is in trouble. May we get through it soon!