Other Americans have also stayed in China because of loved ones. Gabrielle Autry, 26, from Georgia, lives in the eastern city of Hangzhou. She has looked into flights that would take her to the United States — but her fiancé, a Chinese citizen, would not be able to join her, since all foreign nationals are barred from entering the United States if they have recently been in China. If the two were married, it would be a different story.
For now, they are mostly stuck at home, a little bored. But at least they are together, Ms. Autry said.
“Together it’s O.K., but alone it would be horrible,” she said. “I just couldn’t fathom it.”
Mr. Perez has tried to make the best of the isolation, working on his coding skills and reading lots of news about the virus. He talks to his family nearly every day. His parents have sent him masks.
“They’ve been supportive of my decision to stay,” he said. “They regret it, but they know me and I guess they know I’m stubborn about some things.”
His classes have been canceled, and he is not sure if he will be paid after February. The announcement of an American’s death in Wuhan was upsetting, as are the “rumors and mass hysteria” that he often sees on social media.
To treat themselves, the household orders takeout now and again, even though they consider it safer to cook.
“After a rough week, getting a pizza in is worth the risk,” Mr. Perez said. “It doesn’t make sense, it is risky, but it’s just to keep the morale up.”
Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/09/world/asia/coronavirus-china.html
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