Another week flew by and as the Lunar New Year drew closer, many corporations started to break for the new year. It was the 23rd of the 12th month in the lunar calendar and early that morning, Shu Man and her mother went to the market that sold New Year goods and purchased quite a few items. They mainly bought fruits and some snacks as well as some chicken, duck, and fish. These were the basic goods that every family would buy before the Lunar New Year.
Her sister had even given them a lot of seafood and fruits yesterday, so they prepared even more than usual for this Lunar New Year.
Both Shu Man and her mother wore masks that covered their mouths it was already late morning by the time they returned with a trolley full of goods.
After they cooked a bowl of noodles, they sat down to watch some television. The afternoon news was airing on television at the moment and recently, the news would often report about the RES respiratory syndrome and this reflected the top concerns of the public.
In the past three months, there was a viral respiratory infection that had initially originated from South Asia but since this infection could be mistaken for flu in its early stages and it first appeared in a densely populated country in South Asia with poor medical resources. It was only discovered after close to 10,000 people had been infected by it and reported in the news.
This respiratory syndrome was like the SARS virus outbreak more than 20 years but it was more infectious than SARs since it could spread by contact and through the air. Its main symptoms were fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, etc. Those with weaker immune systems like the elderly or children was the most susceptible to it. At the moment, it was reported that there were more than 10,000 cases and more than 70% of the cases were made up of children younger than 10 years of age and the elderly who were more than 55 years of age. The statistical mortality rate was as high as 17% which surpassed the SARS virus.
At the moment, the news was currently reporting the newest cases of the week and the number of deaths this week, as well as the countries and cities that have new cases.
Several cases had been discovered in Country Z last month and even Ye City had more than 50 such cases.
“Mum, I think you should stay indoors during this period,” Shu Man said grimly as she looked at her mother.
Her mother was frail and elderly, so she wouldn’t be able to fight such an infectious virus.
Madam Shu said, “I’ll just be playing mahjong at the mahjong center in this residential area and head out to do some grocery shopping once in a while.” She wouldn’t stray too far from their area.
Shu Man replied, “Don’t go anywhere. You shouldn’t even leave the house before this infectious disease has been contained. I’ll do the grocery shopping.”
Madam Shu was speechless.
She was about to say something when several knocks could be heard at the door.
“Who’s there?” Shu Man and her mother looked toward the door.
The person outside did not respond but continued knocking.
The knocks continued for some time.
“I’ll go take a look,” Shu Man said as she headed to the door. “Who are you?”
“Mum, did you order some takeout or did you order something online?” she asked. Normally, these random strangers at the door were deliverymen.
Madam Shu frowned and looked bewildered as she said, “I didn’t.” She was an old woman, so why would she order takeaway?
The person outside knocked once more and this time, the stranger at the door knocked even louder, so the women inside the house were a little worried.
They couldn’t figure out who could be at the door since this stranger did not speak but merely continued to knock at the door.
Shu Man’s hands moved away from the door handle. They didn’t live in a luxurious neighborhood so the security here wasn’t that great.
“I’ll call the police if you keep that up!” Shu Man yelled and she could make out a blurry figure through the peephole but she couldn’t see this person’s face. She could only see that the stranger was in a black shirt that seemed to be masculine. The person standing outside was clearly a man and he stood very close to the door.