Delivery drivers a lifeline for isolated residents

Xu Yanhong, 47, is a Wuhan native. She has worked as a delivery driver for five years.

On Jan 24, Lunar New Year's Eve, I was waiting for my 25-year-old son and his fiancee to return from Yunnan province. We had planned to discuss their wedding, which is scheduled for May.

I had bought a large amount of groceries for a grand feast on New Year's Eve, but on Jan 23, Wuhan announced a lockdown and suspended all public transportation. My son couldn't return and my husband, who was working in another district of Wuhan, was stranded at his workplace and couldn't make it home.

After I finished work on Jan 23, I learned from the news that the epidemic had become more serious, and realized that my delivery station needed me.

On the morning of Jan 24, I saw a sudden surge in the number of orders on our platform. I called my manager to see if he needed any help. He told me that there were many packages to deliver that day, so I went to the station immediately.

When I arrived and saw the goods, I was taken aback. There were packages of disinfectants, face masks, rice and cooking oil, all piled up in heaps. At that moment, I knew I couldn't leave－if I took a break, my colleagues would have to do my share of the work, and that would not be fair.

The number of orders for disinfectants and face masks is huge, because these products have sold out in stores and are only available on our platform. Now, when I go out every day, I only think about helping the customers receive their purchases as quickly as possible so they can feel more assured and stay home, which is the safest place to be right now.

If I stopped, the customers would wonder why there was no one to deliver their packages. They have experienced enough panic staying at home, reading the news and worrying about the shortage of food.

At first, my husband and son didn't understand why I insisted on working. They said the more I stayed outside and had contact with people, the more likely it was that I would become infected.

I told them that my job is different. If I don't do my job, how would those face masks and disinfectants reach people? I can't just think about myself.

Four of my colleagues have each been allocated a hospital to deliver to every day. Their workload is more intense than mine and they face greater risks. The doctors and nurses who stay on the front line barely have time to eat or sleep. Compared with them, my work is no big deal.

There are a lot of people posting on social media about how bored they feel at being locked at home. I feel my life is better than theirs－at least I can go out, so I know what it is like in the outside world and I feel less afraid.