A Montague man is sick with worry knowing his family is trapped in Wuhan.
Monte Gisborne, who operates the Chinese Junk Boat business in the summer at Peakes Quay Marina in Charlottetown, said his wife, Daniela (Luo Dan Ni), and his step-daughter, Dominica (Li Qin Lin), went over to see family and celebrate the Chinese new year on Jan. 17.
“Oh, deeply worried, deeply,’’ Gisborne told The Guardian in a telephone interview from Vancouver where he’s found temporary work.
“They’re my life. These girls are everything to me. We have a wonderful life together.’’He has spent much of his days face-timing his girls since, talking to them almost every hour.
Daniela and Dominica arrived in China on Jan. 19 and were to return to Canada on Feb. 15, but not long after they landed Daniela realized how serious the situation was becoming with the coronavirus outbreak.
“We started getting a heavy-duty feed of bad news, and the situation seemed to worsen there,’’ Gisborne said.
Daniela immediately exchanged her plane tickets for a return flight on Jan. 28. However, the Chinese government shut everything down on Jan. 23.
Gisborne said communication with the Chinese and Canadian government has been sketchy, convoluted and cryptic.
“Every form letter starts the same way, that the Canadian government believes in keeping families together. It’s hard to understand where my family lies. I can assure you they have not told us to get ready to come home.’’
Media stories reported Wednesday that only Canadian residents and permanent residents with children are permitted to leave Wuhan. Gisborne said that is false. His family members are permanent residents and aren’t being allowed out.
“(Those reports) gave my wife and daughter false hope. Then, I got this form letter from the government that explains the deal. If I had travelled to Wuhan with them, we would all be coming back. But I didn’t, and now they’re keeping the permanent residents over there. You have to have one Canadian in your family group to be coming back.’’
“It’s scary. This is my family. These are the two people in the world that I love the most and I have to protect them; I have to get them safe and, right now, they are not safe.’’
- Monte Gisborne
While Daniela and her daughter have not contracted the coronavirus, it has still struck close to home for her. Her mother’s best friend died as a result of the virus, as did a former classmate who worked as a doctor at the Wuhan Hospital.
“It’s not too good,’’ Daniela told The Guardian from her parents’ apartment in Wuhan. “The situation is not good. Everyday there is more bad news.’’
At a glance
The following is some information on the coronavirus in Wuhan:
- The Chinese authorities have started clamping down on news coverage of the outbreak.
- Cruise ships in Japan and Hong Kong are being scrutinized after infections.
- The coronavirus has infected 24,324 people in mainland China and killed 490 people.
- Pregnant women infected with the new coronavirus may be able to pass it to their unborn children. One newborn tested positive for the virus on Feb. 2, 30 hours following the birth.
- According to the Department of Health and Wellness, there are no confirmed cases of the 2019-nCoV in P.E.I.
- There are five confirmed cases in Canada — three in Ontario and two in British Columbia.
It all hits too hard for Gisborne, who can only wait.
“It’s scary. This is my family. These are the two people in the world that I love the most and I have to protect them; I have to get them safe and, right now, they are not safe.’’
“They haven’t left the apartment for over a week now.’’Daniela is staying with her daughter and her parents and their dog in an apartment that measures about 1,000 square feet. Dominica has passed the time playing with her jump rope and a rollout piano keyboard, as well as taking Grade 2 mandarin classes online since the schools are all closed.
Gisborne said they are fine when it comes to food for now since Daniela’s father stocked up before the Chinese new year celebrations, designed to feed all the friends and family that would be coming to visit — and never did. He said everyone is communicating via laptops.
“When the world hands you lemons, you’re to make lemonade out of them, right,’’ Daniela says, trying to think positive.
Still, one thing occupies her mind. Getting out of Wuhan with her daughter and getting back to Gisborne.
“I’m worried,’’ she said. “I want to go back to Canada with my family. The good news is we’re being told the number of cases is at its maximum right now, so I’m holding out hope, (but) I don’t know when we’re coming home.’’
Canadian update
Following is a statement from Charlottetown MP Sean Casey on the situation with Canadians trapped in Wuhan:
“Our government is working closely with the Chinese authorities on the diplomatic and logistical fronts.
We have received assurances from the Chinese authorities that a permanent resident or a Chinese national accompanying a Canadian minor child (who would otherwise be unaccompanied) will be permitted to leave.
If you are in China and require any consular assistance, contact Global Affairs Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre by phone at 613-996-8885/1-800-387-3124 (toll-free in Canada and the U.S. only) or email at [email protected].”
