China’s coronavirus epicentre Wuhan returns to life, but economic scars run deep
- Months after Wuhan reported its last coronavirus infection, much of the city appears to have returned to normality
- But interviews with dozens of local residents show deep psychological scars and economic damage still lingers
When Wang Dandan moved to Wuhan for a job managing a newly built hotel last summer, she could never have guessed the front seat-view she would have of the city’s battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
After the severity of the outbreak became clearer and authorities sealed off the central Chinese city on January 23, her hotel became the sleeping quarters for medical professionals deployed across the city.
Thanks to its proximity to two major hospitals, the hotel was soon abuzz with doctors and nurses at the epicentre of the crisis. The lobby of the hotel is still decorated with silk banners sent by visiting medical teams expressing gratitude for the hospitality.
The trauma caused by the pandemic is so deep for all of us, it is hard for anyone to avoid
“The trauma caused by the pandemic is so deep for all of us, it is hard for anyone to avoid,” Wang told the South China Morning Post.
The hotel’s occupancy ratio has returned to about 90 per cent of last year’s level, but the room rate has dropped by 50 per cent on average to about 200 yuan (US$29) per night, Wang said.