Photo: Beijing Youth Daily
The first time I heard about the novel coronavirus was in mid-January. I was flying back from the United States after a business trip to represent Comper during CES2020 and receive the USA Today Editor’s Choice Awards and Last Gadget Standing Awards.
Back to Beijing, my original plan was to rest here for a couple of days and then fly back to Ukraine to see my wife and newborn. It would also mean getting my family’s Chinese visa to live together in Beijing.
The news of the coronavirus outbreak was suddenly everywhere in Beijing. Our company started taking prevention measures. I felt that our entire lifestyle changed and we had to get used to a new routine.
After a couple of days I realized that in the circumstances I had two options: leave the country where I spent 10 years of my life, or stay and contribute anyhow to the nation and community that I believe to be my second home. Right after seeing how company colleagues react, I chose to stands with the Comper family to face the coronavirus together without a glint of doubt.
By 24th January, Comper Healthcare, as a manufacturer of smart medical devices including the first smart forehead thermometer, got officially involved in the prevention and control of the outbreak in Beijing. We moved to full production to meet the needs of hospitals and other healthcare providers as the product is certified by the US FDA and we’ve already been selling overseas.
It is when I discovered that there is an unlimited number of people working quietly to support China in the difficult situation.
On Janurary 27, Comper’s team had a meeting with a BDA team led by Deputy Director Dr Mao. During the meeting, I shared with them our experience of playing a part in providing support during the crisis. Since most of our workers had left Beijing for the Chinese new year, the managing team including me started work on the assembly line and produce as many Smart Forehead Thermometers as possible. We also explained our challenges of getting CFDA certification and the shortage of critical components to meet the huge surge in demand for our product. We received unlimited support from Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area.
Just two days after the meeting, we got the Smart Forehead Thermometer certified by the CFDA, which proved how efficiently the Chinese government functions. Five days later, the Head of BDA, Wang, visited our company and told us that three other firms were potential suppliers of the critical component.
The first few days were a bit stressful and too much fake news was doing the rounds globally, which affected me. But after learning about the actual situation, I felt reassured.
I remember walking into a supermarket for the first time since the outbreak. It was not surprising to find fewer people because it was holiday time. But what surprised me was that everyone was using masks and taking all precautions suggested by authorities. There was no dearth of goods in the supermarket. At work, my colleagues were very supportive and the CEO Du Han introduced the practice of checking everyone’s health on a daily basis by an online questionnaire.
It was heartwarming to see Dr Mao visit us at Comper’s R&D center to thank us for the contribution that Comper’s team was making to help alleviate the crisis.
I’ve discovered China and the Chinese like never before at all levels. They have shown professionalism in containing the disease and saving humanity from a fatal virus, as well as keeping life normal by having all supplies available.
I got unlimited support from my neighbors whom I didn’t know well enough.
The sudden outbreak has not only tested China's response but also highlighted foreign attitudes and perceptions about China and the Chinese. Unfortunately double standards have been seen during the crisis and the racism and inhumanbehavior prevailing is more dangerous than the novel Coronavirus.
I believe Chinese authorities took the right decision at the right time. For few seconds, close your eyes and imagine China didn’t take the measures on time or if this was another country. We would definitely be talking about millions infected and tens of thousands dead.
Anyone would think that the change in lifestyle that has come about is hard, but at the same time there are good things to remember. Now we are more careful about our health, and each person trying his best to contribute from his position strengthens human interconnection and the social support system.
In the end, I still believe that the country known abroad for the Chinese miracle will overcome this ordeal. Home is not only where we are born but also where we have friends and our future lies.
(Hosni Haji is Franco-Tunisian and based in Beijing since 2010. He is the VP of Marketing at Comper Healthcare, a pioneer in development and manufacture of AI-driven handheld health care devices for consumers and health care providers.)