I'm so worried about my parents, but at least they're eating well

When it comes to food staples, flour is never the top choice for people in Wuhan, Hubei province, who grow up alongside the Yangtze River and prefer rice.

However, my parents have been exploring the potential that flour offers-sampling dumplings, steamed stuffed buns, steamed bread, cakes and fried dough twists. On seeing pictures of them savoring such delights, my mouth waters.

I stayed in Beijing during Spring Festival, and my parents were in Wuhan. My three roommates all left the capital and returned one by one, meaning that I had to stay at home for 14 days each time to comply with regulations issued by the Beijing authorities. In total, I remained at home for more than 40 days.

I have had worrying days and sleepless nights. However, my parents, some 1,000 kilometers away, are much more optimistic than I am. My father said he experienced difficult times when he was young, as our family had too many children and not enough food. "So things are not that bad," he said.

On Feb 18, he learned that his community had been locked down, and the family had to order vegetables at the local service center. Before the lockdown was imposed, people could still enter and leave after having their temperature taken. My family paid 88 yuan ($12.60) for cabbages, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, ginger and garlic.

Pork, oil, rice, eggs, fruit and flour later became available. People organizing deliveries collect orders from more than 1,000 residents and receive payments via WeChat. Several volunteers bring the food to our community from the supermarket. To avoid large crowds gathering, residents are given a number to collect deliveries downstairs.

My parents recently received vegetables from the government, paying just 10 yuan for white radishes, cabbage and lettuce. Pork is also available from the authorities.

On March 4, my father said he would use a car provided by his community to go to a hospital to get drugs for my mother, who has a chronic disease. However, I managed to dissuade him from this "dangerous" idea.

The next day, my mother called the hospital, where staff members suggested she use the institution's new online service. The drugs were sent to the community gate four days later.

I watched a video on Sina Weibo in which foreigners were interviewed about the measures taken by China to contain the outbreak. One of them said he was impressed that there had been little chaos, despite the situation.

Wuhan is "a city of heroes" and can get through the crisis with the country's support, according to renowned respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan.

Canadian epidemiologist Bruce Aylward has said he feels it is important that the people of Wuhan are recognized and that the world is in their debt.

At a time when almost all services have stopped and normal urban life is barely operating, people in the city have remained calm and have responded to calls made by the authorities. This is the spirit of heroes. I learned recently that some people in Italy fled the north of the country for the south after the media leaked news of a lockdown. This reminded me of the day Wuhan was locked down.

Who can blame them? They just want to live.

I regret not bringing my parents to Beijing before the lockdown was introduced in Wuhan. I need their comfort. I worry about them day and night, but they keep telling me that everything is getting better and they have had exercise and have cooked big meals.

On March 4, in a WeChat group, a neighbor shared a notice posted at our community gate in Wuhan stating there had been no new infections, suspicious cases or cases of fever in the community for 24 hours.

I now believe that we can expect more good news.