Those lovable creatures who bring us our take out whenever we desire have been considerably busier than normal in the past few days, with Nanjing now gripped by fear of COVID. And as people hunker down, the “wai mai” guys are not the only ones turning a profit.
Many didn’t go to work today in Nanjing, grappling with new uncertainties over the epidemic situation, while trying to reconcile the daily requirement for nucleic-acid testing of 2 weeks ago with today’s announcement that a negative-test result is no longer required to even enter medical institutions.
今天，南京的许多人没有去上班，一边应对疫情带来的新的不确定性，一边努力将两周前的每日核酸检测要求与今天宣布的进入医疗机构不再需要检测结果阴性的要求协调起来。
It’s a complete 180 by authorities that is supposedly backed by science. And it’s got people staying home in their droves, ordering takeout, medicine and fruit. The more paranoid are also electing to self test for COVID.
这是权威机构的 180 度转变，据说有科学支持。人们成群结队地呆在家里，点外卖、药品和水果。更加偏执的人也选择对新冠病毒进行自我检测。
As reported today by Nanjing Daily, “Antigen self-test is recommended for people with suspected symptoms, such as cold, stuffy nose, runny nose, diarrhoea, who may have contact with COVID-infected people, or who are in isolation at home”. The self test is convenient, fast and reduces possible cross infection when out in public.
据《南京日报》今天报道，“对于有感冒、鼻塞、流鼻涕、腹泻等疑似症状的人，以及可能接触过新冠病毒感染者或在家隔离的人，建议进行抗原自检”。自检方便、快捷，减少外出公共场所可能的交叉感染。
In one of its most trending stories, Nanjing Daily has also today reported on the sales of pain killers such as Ibuprofen. Those have tripled in recent days.
今天，《南京日报》在其最热门的报道之一中还报道了布洛芬等止痛药的销售情况。最近几天，这一数字增加了两倍。
Another hot item these days is the N95 mask. Addressing worries over potential stockpiling, a pharmacy employee told reporters that any one person is limited to ten purchases of such, at a unit price of ¥3.2.
近来另一个热门商品是N95口罩。对于可能出现囤货的担忧，一名药店工作人员告诉记者，每人限购10支，单价为3.2元。
As to other items flying off the shelves these past few days, The Nanjinger this afternoon stopped by its preferred fruit vendor. Sales, we were told, are up dramatically, especially of any fruit high in Vitamin C. Lemons sales, in particular, are up 100 percent on a week ago.
至于这几天被抢购一空的商品，《南京人》今天下午又拜访了他们最喜欢的水果摊。我们获悉，销量急剧上升，尤其是维生素 C 含量高的水果。尤其是柠檬，销量比一周前增长了 100%。
Then there are those takeout delivery chaps. The Nanjinger today had difficulty in actually finding a wai mai guy to interview, an effort that would presented little difficulty at 14:00 any other day. Eventually, one confided that his orders were up about 50 percent on a week or 2 ago.
然后还有那些外卖送货员。 《南京人》今天很难找到一个外卖小哥来采访，而换做其他日子的 14:00，这一工作不会有什么困难。最终，一位人士透露，他的订单比一两周前增加了约 50%。
Perhaps the overriding concern of most is the uncertainty. In addition to the relaxing of the bulk of anti-epidemic measures, health authorities in China have also this week chosen to no longer make a daily report as to the number of asymptomatic COVID infections.
也许大多数人最关心的是不确定性。除了放松大部分抗疫措施外，中国卫生部门本周还选择不再每日报告新冠无症状感染者人数。
While that’s in part due to there being little nucleic-acid testing performed on which to base the results, it’s also driving a fear of the unknown as heresy starts to embed itself in the community.
虽然这在一定程度上是由于很少进行核酸检测来得出结果，但随着异端邪说开始在社区中扎根，这也引发了人们对未知事物的恐惧。
This week, there have been infected persons telling The Nanjinger of splitting headaches and nausea, and others voicing concern that they have COVID-positive colleagues at work.
本周，一些感染者告诉《南京人》，他们感到头痛和恶心，还有一些人对他们工作中的同事感染新冠病毒表示担忧。
They are wondering whether they should go to the office. While such people have the right to request their workplace be disinfected, the official line is to be on duty as normal. Otherwise, the lawyers say, it shall constitute absenteeism.
他们想知道是否应该去办公室。虽然这些人有权要求对工作场所进行消毒，但官方的规定是正常值班。律师表示，否则将构成旷工。
