James from Canada quit his job in August last year and went on an extended trip though Canada, Europe and Asia. Presently living in a guest house in Seoul, South Korea, 1398km away from Wuhan, he told us how he’s prepared for the COVID-19 crisis as a traveller on the move, and why, despite not being tied down to South Korea, he has no plans to leave just yet.
“Everything I’ve got here fits in a backpack, so if I need to move at a moment’s notice, it wouldn’t be hard for me to do so.”Q: Hi James, thanks for connecting with us all the way from Seoul, South Korea! When did you first hear about the 2019-nCoV novel coronavirus and what did you think of it then?
A: I first caught wind of the 2019-nCoV around New Years Eve while I was travelling in Japan. At that point it hadn’t spread far beyond Wuhan and there wasn’t a lot of noise about it, aside from comparisons to SARS, so I really didn’t think too much about it.
How concerned are you now? How many COVID-19 cases and related deaths are there in Seoul at the point of this interview and do you personally know anyone who’s been infected with COVID-19?
I’m not terribly concerned. As of today there are 1,146 confirmed cases in South Korea but the majority of those seem to be in the vicinity of Daegu, not here in Seoul.
How did most of the cases in Seoul get infected anyway? Are there any notable clusters?
For the first few weeks, the locations of most of the cases weren’t really well-publicised (at least in English language media that I’m aware of), understandably as most could be linked to China, so location wasn’t really that important. It seems like this new burst (from ~30 to ~1100 in slightly over a week) is closely associated with a particular church centred around Daegu.
How has life changed for you since the coronavirus entered South Korea? What are you no longer allowed to do and what extra are you expected to do to keep yourself and your community safe?
It hasn’t had a big impact on my life so far—in fact, up until this week the effect was virtually nil. In the last few days, there have been widespread closures of museums and the Asian League Ice Hockey cancelled their championship round, which had been scheduled to begin this upcoming weekend in Anyang, a satellite city of Seoul, between a Korean team and a Russian team from Sakhalin.
What else do you do regularly to keep healthy and safe?
I’m washing my hands extremely frequently—probably more than I have since I found myself in the middle of the 2005 H5N1 outbreak in China. I’m wearing a mask when I’m riding the subway and in public gatherings, but other than that, not much.
Why do you choose to stay on in Seoul regardless?
I’m travelling around indefinitely so I’m under no obligation to remain here, but at this point heading to any other Asian country means I’ll likely be turned away, and I’m not that keen on heading home and getting off the road quite yet.
What is the status of food, water and medical supplies like masks in stores right now? Where are those supplies coming in from?
Masks have been intermittently low in some stores—some get re-stocked in the mornings but are often gone towards the end of the day. I haven’t personally seen any shortages of water, most food or medical supplies other than masks. I say most food because some non-perishables have been disappearing from the shelves quickly, particularly instant noodles and bulk bags of rice, but I’ve never seen them completely gone from a store, just low.
Have you done anything to prepare for the possibility that the novel coronavirus epidemic in South Korea might get worse? Have you stocked up or made special plans you can execute at a moment’s notice?
I rely on daily medication, which I typically carry a limited supply of. Around the 2nd/3rd week of January, I went out of my way to get a supply that should last for several months in the event that availability is affected. Aside from another small stockpile of non-perishables, everything I’ve got here fits in a backpack, so if I need to move at a moment’s notice, it wouldn’t be hard for me to do so.
Is there anything you know about the situation within South Korea that has not been mentioned, or has been misrepresented, in global news?
No, I don’t believe so. If anything, the impact has been overblown, at least here in Seoul. It seems like Daegu is really taking the brunt of it at this point.
What do you think of South Korea’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak? What did they do well and what could have been done better?
I think that’s a question for public health experts, I’m not really qualified to answer it.
What will you do if you or those who live with you develop symptoms of the virus?
I’ll head straight to the nearest hospital.
Which 3 items or people are most useful for you right now?
Soap and alcohol wipes are the big two, can’t think of a third.
Is there anything you regret not doing earlier?
Not really.
Lastly, what have you learned from this novel coronavirus outbreak that you didn’t know before?
Not that I can think of.
James’ priority right now is looking for a new job back in Canada. You can read about him at distancefromnormal.com or chat with him using the comment box below.
Tomorrow, we chat with an expat in Busan, 93km away from Daegu, where masks are in short supply and hoarding has taken place. Follow the latest in our COVID-19 Diaries series here.
If you’re in a country that has been affected by the novel coronavirus and would like to share information about the situation where you’re at, do get in touch with us here.
Photographs courtesy and copyright of James. Interviewer: Sy
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