Panic-Buying Doesn't Happen In China... Scenes From Britain Shock People Here

English teacher Mark Featherstone, 47, lives and works in the Chinese town of Tongzhou, two hours north of Shanghai. In an exclusive dispatch for the Daily Express, Mark, from Leeds, gives a unique insight into two months of lockdown in China and gives hope to British people, that if we all adhere to the strict measures imposed, we can halt Covid-19’s deadly spread.

- Paul Jeeves

Two months ago my boss messaged me warning “there is a virus in Wuhan, don’t go out – but if you do wear a mask”.

Checking on a map I saw Wuhan was 500 miles away.

Not having a mask I ignored her and went about my normal business. I thought she was overreacting.

Initially things seemed normal – shops were open, but I noticed people were all wearing masks.

But within days shops, restaurants and bars began closing.

Only supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations and a few grocery stores remained open.

Although I can speak and read a reasonable amount of Mandarin I did not have the skill to understand detailed reports on the virus and I was unable to bypass China’s internet censorship to read Western journalism as everything was blocked. Chinese social media friends became my only source of information. Initially there was anger towards the authorities for their perceived slow reaction.