Another Day, Another Test

 

Dear Friends,

While tests are only required every 72 hours, we are finding it easier to stop by the kiosks once a day on our way around town. It makes it easier than trying to keep track of the timing. If we see a kiosk with a short or no line, we stop in for a throat swab. 

Love from Shanghai,

Heather and Brad 

Contact Tracing

Dear Friends,

In order to enter any public transportation or building, you need to scan this code at the entrance to each location. Then you have to show the location-specific code with your negative Covid test within 72 hours to enter. It is a never-ending process of testing, scanning, and showing codes. 

Love from Shanghai,

Heather and Brad

QR Codes & MORE QR Codes

 

Dear Friends,

Since the lockdown in April, Shanghai has instituted even stricter Covid testing regulations. Before green codes meant you had been in low-risk areas inside of the city and were shown to enter some places such as malls, schools, and gyms. This has changed since the outbreak in April. 

In order to enter public buildings, you need to have a negative Covid test within 72 hours. All this information is loaded into the Alipay app. The black QR code is scanned when you get your test. The results are uploaded to your phone. When they come back negatve a different QR code is updated with the timeframe in which you have had your test. The middle code shows that the last negative test was within 24 hours. The last QR code pictured shows that there has not been a test for 12 days, thus not allowing you into any public places. 

These tests are all free and currently, the understanding is they will remain that way until the end of August. We are not exactly sure what happens then...testing ends? we pay for the tests? Not sure! 

Love from Shanghai,

Heather

Testing Kiosks

 Dear Friends,

A new development in Shanghai since the Covid outbreak in March are these Covid testing kiosks that can be found all over the city. In order to enter any public building, you have to have negative Covid test results within 72 hours for most places. Some medical facilities and places where you have to remove your mask such as the dentist require a negative test within 24 hours. A whole system has been set up in the Alipay app to scan individual codes that upload test results to your account. Results tend to show up within 7-10 hours. 

Love from Shanghai,

Heather

Transportation Issues

Dear Friends,

Having not been able to do any type of business in Shanghai since March, my list of errands to run is quite extensive. I was looking forward to getting a few things checked off my list when getting out of quarantine. 

After knocking the spiders and mildew off my scooter, I hopped on eager to get going. I made it about a block before I discovered there was something wrong with my brakes. Luckily our scooter repair is on the next block and the magical repair man had new brakes on my scooter in about 20 minutes for 10 USD. It only took so long because he had to go to another shop to find the part he needed.

Love from Shanghai,

Heather

Freedom Run

Dear Friends,

The first thing on the agenda on my first morning out of quarantine was a run around the city. This was the first time I've been able to run on the streets of Shanghai since March 31. At 5:00 am it was already 86 degrees and 78% humidity, I couldn't have been happier (ok, maybe if it was a little cooler). 

Love from Shanghai,

Heather

Home Quarantine

Dear Friends, 

My arrival for-home quarantine was largely uneventful, the bus dropped me off and went to my apartment. The guards were kind enough to help with my luggage. They did seem a bit unprepared to receive me. After about 30 minutes in my apartment, the messages started coming. 

Through these clear messages, I understood that I was not to leave my apartment. First order of business-food delivery. I immediately got on the local delivery app and ordered some fresh food. During the week in the facility, I had not been served anything fresh. Thankful for the apples a friend sent. I would have been miserable without those apples.  I couldn't wait to get some salads and smoothies from Wagas.

I didn't receive much communication about my requirements. Near the end of the first day, I heard a noise outside my door to discover that a sensor was put on my door. It had actually fallen off in the heat. I didn't even know it was out there so that prompted more texts in the group chat. Real food and my own home. I was so happy to have been released after day 7. Reading through the numerous group chats I'm in, it seems I am one of the few that was actually released on day 7 to finish quarantine at home. Back to the food I wanted and my trusty treadmill. My step count in quarantine was a sad state of affairs.

 

Supposed to be released on day 10, I messaged the group about when I might get my final Covid test so I could be released. They did not know, that we are waiting for the CDC to contact the hospital. More lack of clarity and frustration. On the morning of day 11, I received a phone call informing me someone would be over in an hour to give me a test. At 9 am I opened the door to this. I was never so glad to see someone in a hazmat suit at my apartment door.

Check out that Covid toolbelt! 

This one was a throat and nose swab, which she took and went on her way. About 20 minutes later, she returned as she realized she had not gotten all my personal information. She said she was too nervous speaking English to me the first time. (So sweet!). She told me that when my test resuts showed up, I could leave. 

Around 1:30, I checked my app....

Green is negative! 

I had the negative test and the updated green code. That 24 on the bottom left is important. More on that in an upcoming post. I was free...or was I? I wrote the group chat and send these screenshots....I heard nothing for an hour. I wrote again, explaining all my newly found quarantine friends had been released from their hotels and I wanted confirmation that I could go.  Finally after a few more messages....I was FREE! 

Love, 

Heather

Hotel Quarantine

 Dear Friends,

As I prepared to leave the US, there were many adjustments to the travel requirements to enter Shanghai. One of the most significant was the length of time for the quarantine. I was preparing for 14 days in a hotel and then 7 days at home for a total of 21 days. I could hardly believe my luck when a week before I was to travel back, the requirements changed to 7 days in a hotel and 3 days at home. This was a significant improvement. 

Most people are sent to hotels in their districts. As the bus from the airport drove on, I got the sense that I was NOT going to my district. A glance at my Apple maps showed the bus taking me far out of town. This was really the first time I felt at all uneasy about the process. A quick text to our government relations officer reassured me that others had been taken out in the direction I was going. 

See the blue dot? That's me! 

Upon arrival, the bus sat outside the facility for about 20 minutes while we waited for another bus to enter and unload passengers. This was no hotel, rather it looked like a purpose-built facility. Inside was similar to a dorm room, the outside, a little more prisonlike-tall fences, guards, etc. 

Once the bus pulled in, we were met by more people in hazmat suits, asked to complete forms and, scan a few more QR codes. 

While we were on the bus, our luggage was removed and sprayed down with disinfectant again. I wrangled my bags up to the door. A kind gal on my bus spoke English and helped me "check in". During this process, I was being waved over to a man with spray disinfectant. He was spraying people's carry-on bags. I apparently was not moving fast enough so he just decided to spray the disinfectant all over my backpack while I was wearing it, effectively covering my whole backside in what smelled like bleach. (This may have been the most frustrating part of this process.)

At check-in, weekly accommodation and meals were pre-paid. With the help of my new friend, I tried to explain I was vegetarian. That was mostly successful throughout the week with only a few meat products coming my way. 

The first room I was put in had lots of mold, I messaged the office and asked to be moved. They came up and moved me right away. The room was small but clean. It even had a small patio where I could do yoga. 

View from my room.

Items that were provided in my room.

I was given very little information. Just a couple of contacts who told me they would bring me meals and come by to test me periodically. I suspected the food would be the most difficult part of this experience since I am such a particular eater. I was not wrong. The best item I got for breakfast was the red bean buns. 

Lunch and dinner all felt the same to me. Always a large portion of white rice with double portions of the vegetables they were serving to everyone else. I am not sure they knew what to do with someone that doesn't eat meat. All the meals had a lot of MSG, super salty. I usually ate one or two bites. 

Typical Breakfast

Tried this as I know it is popular here. Not for me. 

The entire week I was not served any fresh food. A friend managed to get this fresh fruit sent to me. I was told I was not allowed to order this type of food but they would bring it to me this one time. It made the week bearable. 

The food items I packed in all that luggage was helpful as well.

Not sure I'd buy this again but it worked in this situation.

As the week was coming to an end, I was starting to wonder when and how I would be getting home. Getting me out of quarantine and to my apartment took a lot of work on some by my wonderful colleagues connecting with the quarantine facility and the neighborhood committee.  

The day before my departure, in addition to my Covid test, they came in and swabbed my luggage, phone, and door handle.

I was told to pack my bags and be ready by 7:00 am and to wait for the knock. Around 8:15 there was a knock at my door and another hazmat pointed me down the hall to the elevator. As we exited, there was one more temperature check for good measure. A release paper was handed to me with the all-important red stamp. And, I couldn't leave without one more spray down of the bags. Luckily, this time I was spared the disinfectant shower. 

My departure was full of the usual confusion. I was told by my colleagues a car was coming to get me and they were trying to put me on a bus. After 10 minutes of contacting various people, I was going on the bus. I had a great time loading my dripping wet bags onto the city bus while everyone waiting for the foreinger. At least I was on my way home. 

Love,

Heather 

Shanghai Arrival 2022

Dear Friends,

The arrival process in Shanghai is not a quick one. There are a lot of steps to take before you are loaded onto your bus to the quarantine hotel. Luckily I am in 3-4 chat groups that supported all the departure, arrival, and quarantine questions I had. The international community has been amazing in supporting each other in this travel process. 

First stop, a covid test. This was the most aggressive swab I've had in this whole process and I've had countless covid tests since March. You could hear people gagging down the aisle. They were not messing around!

From the Covid tests, we went through a temperature check and then to immigration. I was asked a lot more questions than usual although, it's been over two years so maybe I forgot. Then off to pick up luggage. As I was warned in the chats, all the luggage coming around the carousel was dripping wet from being sprayed with disinfectant. 

After going through customs, there were more QR codes and forms. I cannot even remember what this was for. They all basically asked for the same information. At this point, we were divided into Shanghai residents and non-residents. 

I followed the crowd and showed my new QR code to several more hazmats and was directed to an area with different districts within Shanghai. I waited for the next 90 minutes for someone to arrive to continue with the process. During this time, I met a couple that was just moving to Shanghai from Michigan. Luckily they kept me entertained. Once the workers arrived, I handed over my passport and they asked me questions about my home, who I lived with, and asked for my lease. I produced this after several texts to my landlord at 8:30 am on a Sunday morning (I'm sure he was thrilled). 

After more waiting, I was directed to follow someone to a new location. I thought it odd that I was the only one in the group leaving. I waved goodbye to my new friends and followed the next hazmat to another location. Again, handed over my passport and some more data entry. 

Followed the next person down the escalator to the next location. You are basically just guided around to several locations without any idea what is happening or where you are going. I am sure this is a completely different experience for someone with more Mandarin skills than I have. 

The last stop at the airport, waiting for the bus. I was the only foreigner in this group. 

Outside the airport

Finally loading our things onto the bus. I missed the person spraying down the carts with disinfectant in the photo. Little did I know I was in for a lengthy ride outside of Shanghai.

Love,

Heather

Return to Shanghai

 Dear Friends, 

Preparing for the return trip to Shanghai included the same amount of hoops to jump through as leaving. One large difference was that everything was in English so I didn't have to navigate confusing translations. Preparations for the return began pretty much the first day I landed in the US.

China has limited incoming flights and in order to get on one of those you have to meet several requirements. Some flights to China are getting canceled due to having too many positive cases on board and airlines are getting reprimanded by having their flights cut off for two weeks. This scenario along with my work visa expiring on July 15 added some additional stress to the situation. Normally our visas are renewed before the summer holiday but due to the Shanghai lockdown, this was impossible.

Before I left Shanghai, I booked two different refundable return flights to Shanghai and later a third in the event that one of these got canceled. Flights to China are currently only flying out of five US cities, luckily for me, one of them was Detroit (my "original" home). Initially, you were required to be in your city of departure for a Covid test 7 days before departure in addition to the two within 48 hours. This changed while I was in the US, allowing me a few extra days in Florida.

The first week back in the US, I booked my Covid tests with the China-approved testing centers in the Detroit area. At this point, there were only two you could use. That changed later before I left but these two were easy for me so I stuck with them.

Timing of tests was very specific. The two tests had to within 48 hours of your flight and twenty four hours apart. Tests had to be at two different labs. Additionally, you were to have an antigen test within 12 hours of the flight. Once you received negative results from all of these tests, you have to upload everything to the Chinese consulate's Health Declaration form to get a green code to get on the plane. 

The antigen test was removed from the protocol by the time I was flying so that was one less thing to worry about. My flight left Detroit at 11:40 pm and at 7:30 pm I was still waiting for my negative test results. They finally arrived and it took about 40 minutes for the consulate to give me the "gree code". There were several of us sitting around the check-in area waiting for this. I could tell by the way people would check their phones and then happily pop up to go check in. I could only imagine the stress for those that were not approved. 

Once the green code was in my phone, I gathered my bags and headed for check-in. Having been away for so long and Brad not coming home with me, I had a lot of extra baggage, which was challenging to get everywhere by myself. I know I'll be glad to have my favorite shampoo in a few months and all the other items I brought back as well but at the time, it was just one more hassle.  

After check-in, it was time for a drink and some food-off to the Delta lounge. Little did I know there were MORE forms to fill out and codes to be applied for. When I got to the gate there was another code to scan and a form to complete to give me the customs code. In order for me to get on the plane, I had to show the staff both the green code and the black code.

The time to board came and went- mechanical problems. Thoughts went through my mind of the flight getting canceled and me having to go through the testing and code application all over. Luckily that didn't happen. We finally boarded and we were off. 

Although my flight was a "direct" flight, we actually flew to Seoul where we sat on the plane while there was a crew change. One flight crew fly back and forth from Detroit to Seoul and the other fly between Shanghai and Seoul. That was an additional two hours on the plane turning a 13-hour flight into 15. The extra two hours were insignificant in this whole process. Just another part of the whole crazy process. I was so thrilled to finally land in Shanghai. 

Love, 
Heather

Shaghai Departure

 Dear Friends,

On May 9, our school announced that we would continue with virtual learning for the remainder of the school year. This decision allowed me to change my flight back to the US and spend a little additional time with family in Florida before having to return back to Shanghai before my work visa expired on July 15. 

During the lockdown, this was not an easy process. I could not simply buy a ticket, grab a Didi (Uber) and go to the airport. The process was more along the lines of the following: 

1. Get written permission from the neighborhood committee to leave the compound to go to the airport and to the hospital the day before for the required Covid tests to enter the airport and get on the plane. 

2. Locate a driver with a special license that allows them to drive during the lockdown. This had to be booked and paid in advance (roughly $300).

3. Get the Covid test. I could have used the tests at our compound. However, when these were administered was unpredictable. I went to the local hospital instead. It was a wonderful opportunity to get out of the compound and walk a couple of blocks. Streets were patrolled by volunteers in hazmats, blocking off routes for cars. 

Blocking off the street to cars. 

Quick Covid Test- Arms reach out the holes and swab your throat. 

4. Getting to the airport. My ride was 15 minutes late which had me in a panic as I could not just call another car to come to get me. He finally arrived. The ride to the airport was quick even with the three checkpoints, as there was barely any traffic on the road.

Leaving Puxi

Entering the Airport

5. Enter the airport. Another opportunity to show my green code and my negative Covid test. Lots of forms to fill out here. 

6. Check in for my flight. This was the part that took the longest amount of time. It took two China Eastern representatives about one hour to ensure I had all the paperwork correct and help me complete the health and customs forms. 

Check-In Counter

7. Immigration and security. Super short lines. No photos-you don't take photos here. 

8. Lounge. Nothing in the airport was open with the exception of the Delta Lounge. After all the stress of the morning, it was time for a glass of wine. 

9. Boarding. Once again, I had to show my green code and negative test (twice) to get on the plane. 

A final green code check.

10. Arrival-Back in Florida after 2 layovers in Seoul and Atlanta. I was one of three people wearing a mask at the Sarasota airport. A very uncomfortable feeling after the last few months and all it took to get on my flight. However, I stuck with the mask the whole time I was out in public for the summer.

Made it! 😀

Love,

Heather