The current situation of epidemic in Shanghai is getting tougher. Recently, a reporter from Eastday.com tested positive for COVID-19 and has been transferred to a makeshift hospital for treatment. The reporter delivers reports from the front line after his admission. He will listen to the stories of positive COVID-19 patients around him in the form of a special "diary of a reporter in a makeshift hospital".

Day1: Waiting at transit station to be admitted to makeshift hospital.

A week of worries and apprehensions

On April 4, my family—me, my mother, my wife and my daughter—went downstairs to take nucleic acid tests. It was a warm, sunny spring day and my mom only wore a thin jacket.

That night, my mother’s throat tickled and she went to bed early at 8:00 pm. She was just thinking out loud,"Why do I feel a little cold?”

That day, our family didn't associate mom's discomfort with the COVID-19 infection at all. It was more of a guess that my mom's thin attire that day had triggered her cold.

　　The reporter’s mom and daughter in line for nucleic acid tests on April 4

On the morning of April 5, we found that the reports of our PCR tests done on April 4 were being reviewed, which made us a little nervous. Symptoms of my mother's cold were pretty obvious that day, but we still didn’t think much of it. After all, we hadn't left our home for several days.

On April 5, a medical worker came to the house to do the nucleic acid tests again. The picture shows my mother being tested.

On the morning of April 6, the reports of our PCR tests came out. My wife, my daughter and I all tested negative for COVID-19, but the report of my mom's PCR test again was being reviewed. My mom tested positive for COVID-19 and the rest of us tested negative in the antigen self-testing organized by the community that day. When my mom saw the result, she decided to start a self-imposed quarantine in her study from that night.

That night, my throat tickled after drinking some cold milk. So did my wife’s.

On April 7, the medical workers came to the house again to do the nucleic acid testing. On that day, my wife tested positive in the antigen self-testing. Therefore, the whole family were now quite anxious.

At about 11:50 am that day, I got a phone call from the local Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). I was informed that my mom had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Subsequently, the medical workers soon came to pick up my mother. That night, my wife started to have a fever.

On April 8, the medical worker came to the house to do the nucleic acid test. The picture shows my daughter being tested.

On the morning of April 9, the CDC officially notified me, my wife and my daughter that we had tested positive. At 11:00 am, we all waited calmly for the medical workers to come to pick us up.

I never got the staff member’s name. He came to pick us up on April 9.

On April 9，it was the first time that we had left the residential complex in the past half month. There were not many cars on the way.

In the hallway of the transit station, a stool was placed in front of each door, and breakfast, lunch and dinner were put on them.

A week of warmness in the heart

After my mother was tested positive, Yu Sufang, one of my community's volunteers, and Li Jia, a staff member of the residents' committee, have been keen to help us.

　　Disinfection and sterilization in the residential complex

The staff member and the volunteer rushed to send us what we needed：Lianhua Qingwen granules, alcohol or fever reducer.

Their help made us feel warm during this difficult time.

Story by Liu Xiaojing

Translated by Zhao Chunyuan