No stepping out for 14 days please

On Wednesday afternoon, Beijing authorities issued a new set of rules, requiring fresh arrivals from abroad to not step out of their accommodation for 14 days.

But that is not "discrimination against foreigners". The 14-day quarantine period applies to anyone, including Chinese, coming from abroad.

The policy is not a "violation of rights", as portrayed by some Western media outlets. The Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases requires everyone to cooperate with the health authorities in implementing measures to curb epidemics. Quarantining has proved an effective way to limit transmission of the virus.

Also, the government is authorized to take emergency measures, such as requiring those coming from abroad to stay at home.

It is wrong to say that being confined indoors is boring or inconvenient. Anybody who lives in Beijing knows that most goods can be ordered online and received within a day or two. Even ordering three meals a day is no big deal.

Ever since the novel coronavirus broke out, community services have greatly improved. For almost any problem, one can approach community staff members who will solve it. And there are policies encouraging people to work from home. If the job allows, one can actually accomplish everything without leaving home.

All this is possible thanks to resources, human and otherwise, the Beijing municipal government has invested in. To sum up, the "Do not leave the house" policy is legal, uniform and necessary for controlling the epidemic.