A former Bendigo resident says the Chinese city in which he lives is "like a ghost town" due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
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Ben Campbell, his wife Yao Ying and daughter Liya live in Kunming, a city in a south-western province that had 91 confirmed cases of the virus at February 1, most of them in the city itself.
Kunming is in partial lockdown, with residential complexes quarantined, public transport suspended and restaurants, parks and cinemas closed.
Mr Campbell said the family had not been outside in more than a week and while such isolation was not enforced, everyone wanted to see the outbreak brought under control as soon as possible.
"The general mood of people in Kunming is one of anxiety because the number of coronavirus infections increases every day... People are concerned mostly about food security because there is panic and supermarket shelves are mostly empty," Mr Campbell told the Bendigo Advertiser.
The teacher said he and his family stocked up on two weeks' worth of fresh produce and enough long-life food to last two months, and bought enough face masks for four months.
Four-year-old Liya was a ball of energy, he said, and keeping spirits high during their containment.
Mr Campbell said they were making the most of the time to teach Liya English, ahead of a planned move back to Bendigo.
It was alarming to see the number of coronavirus cases rise each day, Mr Campbell said, but he and his wife felt the Chinese government had handled the outbreak well.
"My wife experienced the SARS outbreak... She feels that the government has learned how to better cope with viral epidemics and is doing a better job this time," he said.
But he was concerned about the emergence of racist responses to the outbreak.
"I think the public needs to be reminded that epidemics throughout history such as smallpox, Spanish influenza, ebola and so on, have come from diverse geographic locations and its wrong to target Chinese people because of the latest case having its origins in China," he said.
Mr Campbell hopes to move back to Bendigo with his family later this year, pending the approval of a spouse visa.
He grew up in the city and left at 17.
"Each time I return to my hometown I see it growing into a better and better place," he said.
"It's fantastic for kids, especially young ones like my daughter."
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
