William A Haseltine Interviews an American who was Quarantined in Shanghai

March 18, 2020

William Haseltine (WH): Thank you for your time. I understand that you and your wife were released from quarantine in Shanghai the day before yesterday**.** I appreciate you taking the time to tell your story. It will be fascinating and instructive to all around the world who may be facing a similar circumstance. It is a rare opportunity to learn about it first-hand. ****Let’s start from the beginning. I understand your request to remain anonymous as I publish this interview.

Traveler (TL): Thank you, Bill. We were in Europe and we were flying back via Frankfort, flying out on the 28th of February, landing on the 29th back to Shanghai. At that time, Europe was not treated as a hot zone in China. We were screened on arrival. We walked through infrared temperature checks when we walked through the airport, filled out forms specifying where we had been for the last fourteen days, picked up our suitcases, and left. When we got back to the apartment, we were met by the staff and asked us to self-isolate.

WH: Did they know you had returned from abroad?

TL: Yes, They knew we had come from abroad.

WH: Did you tell them, or did they already know?

TL: I told them. They did not know, but they asked.

WH: Please describe how control of entry and exit works where you live.

TL: We live in a fairly large complex. To enter the complex, you normally walk past a place where they take your temperature. However, that day we came in through the underground garage with our luggage, so they did not take our temperature. It actually was not until the next day when I went downstairs to pick up laundry that the person at the front desk knew I had not been around for two weeks. He said where have you been? I said we had been traveling. They said you got to do self-isolation. ****

WH: So the first time you had an interaction that said you have to do something was the person at the front desk of your housing complex who told you that, because you had been traveling abroad, you had to do self-isolation.  ****

TL: Correct

WH: What kind of authority does that person have?

TL: I am not sure. I mean, they look authoritative. ****

WH: But from your point of view, up until that time it was just like a desk clerk or was it more than that?

TL: Yes. It is important to understand there are three levels of isolation.

The first level is self-isolation which means you stay home, you take your temperature, your record your temperature on an app and you are asked not to go out more than necessary. You may leave to buy groceries and other necessities. You can go out for walks, but you are supposed to be cautious. That is the base level.

The middle level is home quarantine. In home quarantine you remain in your apartment, but you are not allowed to go out at all. You still use the app to record your temperature and the indicators. Food and other necessities are delivered. They bring them outside your door, knock, and run away. Then you open the door to your apartment and bring it in.

The highest level is controlled quarantine. In controlled quarantine you are relocated to a hotel. I will describe that in a minute, but let me describe the app everyone uses today.