The worst of China Many Shanghai citizens’ nerves have frayed and animosity has grown as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, but some have flourished in the face of adversity, standing up with innovative ideas and determination to help their communities through the crisis.

Unsurprisingly, many of these people have utilized the skills they learned on the job to help others negotiate the terrifying new world of forced quarantine and lockdowns that no one could have imagined before COVID.

When Li Di, a senior executive with a major bank, was brought to the Nanhui quarantine facility in April after testing positive for COVID and surrounded by mayhem, he felt he had to assist.

“There was only 120 to 150 staff to take care of 10,000 patients. The staff had their hands full,” said Li.

I assembled a group of over a dozen volunteers to plan meals, distribute supplies, and assist elderly patients who were struggling with different quarantine facility procedures.

He also established a more effective method for persons under quarantine to interact with staff, which helped to speed the procedure for the mandatory testing of the 400 people in his building, lowering the time it took from three hours to one, subject to the permission of overworked staff.

He even assisted in the organisation of halal food for Muslims.

“You have to bring in some modern management skills to make things more efficient and make life easier,” Li said.

Since the virus was discovered in the city of Wuhan in late 2019, Shanghai has become the epicentre of China’s greatest epidemic. Under China’s zero-COVID policy, anybody who tests positive with the virus, as well as their close connections, must be quarantined at designated sites.

Videos on social media have revealed hurriedly set up quarantine facilities across the city, including one built of shipping containers and another at a school with no blankets or hot water.

The vast majority of Shanghai residents who avoided COVID have been subjected to lockdown.

People ordered to stay at home in their flats have struggled to get fresh food and other essential items as the restrictions have shut shops and exposed a huge shortage of delivery staff.