Outbreak imbues sense of self-discipline

As fewer new cases of infection are reported in Shanghai and other parts of China, the coronavirus outbreak that rocked the country over the past month may finally be loosening its deadly grip.

Friends have told in social media posts of their intriguing return to work, in full gear — wearing face masks, goggles, disposable gloves and even raincoats. All hint at the lengths Chinese society has gone to get back on its feet.

As life slowly staggers back to normality, we should remember that the gradual restoration of order has been a result of the collective efforts of a highly disciplined society.

This is no easy task for a metropolis teeming with restaurants, shopping malls, cinemas, establishments of entertainment and other alluring comforts and trappings of a consumerist society.

By considerably curtailing outdoor activities, residents have contributed to the fight to stem the viral infection. There are occasional complaints about the inconvenience caused, of course, such as the difficulty in getting access to some services. But, by and large, we've come to terms with the notion that locking ourselves in our homes is for the greater good.

The suppression of individual desires is the very first step toward a so-called "people's war" on the pathogen.

As if ongoing measures to curb the virus spread are not enough, local authorities are constantly stepping up efforts to make sure no stones are left unturned.

For example, security is getting tighter at the entrance to many neighborhoods, including mine. As I drive to the front gate every evening, a guard will step up and take my temperature with a hand-held, gun-like thermometer.

This could be an awkward moment as I have to roll down the window for him to lean in and perform his duty. I noticed, however, yesterday that the "gun" was replaced by a thermometer that beeped while taking my temperature from my wrist.

This morning, when I returned from driving my wife to work, I was stopped by a guard at the entrance who handed me a slip of numbered paper proving that I am a resident of this neighborhood. This is for restricting entry by vehicles from outside, he said.

Two weeks ago, couriers could still be seen entering and leaving my neighborhood unhindered. But now all delivery services have become "contactless" as parcels, takeaways and groceries are piled up high on a table by the front gate, awaiting their buyers notified through a call.

And needless to say it’s hard to come across a pedestrian without a mask on the street.

No matter when the outbreak can be totally brought under control, it has clearly knocked some sense of self-discipline into the heads of most people.

A few days ago, at a press conference organized by the Shanghai municipal government, Xie Bin, a chief physician with Shanghai Mental Health Center, responded to online comments that "Shanghai people are the most afraid of death," as local citizens bought a quarter of online supplies of surgical masks at the beginning of the outbreak.

Instead of blasting this comment, Xie took it as a badge of honor, saying pervasive fears of a deadly virus drive people to act in ways that help halt its spread in the shortest time possible.

Otherwise, if hordes of people are "brave enough" to bunch up and hang out all day long, they would put the health and lives of others in danger, said Xie.

In a crisis like the one confronting us, this "fear of death" is perhaps the most effective cure for long-standing malaises like carelessness, haphazardness and a propensity to take chances. In other words, it should be interpreted as the sublime form of self-discipline.

This is a virtue that should be extolled and continued in the coming days or months, until we finally put the outbreak behind us.