Some genius invented the Health Code, valid for 72 hours. If you didn't get a nucleic acid test within 72 hours and your code turned red, probably from Xinjiang to Shenzhen, no hotel, inn, or compound would dare take you in. You couldn't even return to your own home. Sleeping in parks or on the streets might not be an option either.
Although the lockdown was lifted, Shanghai was still sealing areas piecemeal, changing from a hotpot split in two to a 16-grid hotpot. There were categories: positive, close contacts, secondary close contacts. One day, we were notified to pick up our son from school. It turned out a classmate of his had gone to a hotpot restaurant with her parents, and then the parents tested positive. This little girl (my son's classmate) hadn't tested positive yet but was a close contact, so her classmates, including my son, were secondary close contacts and had to go home for self-quarantine.
Suddenly, at 5:00 AM, the principal called me, asking me to check why my son's code had suddenly turned red. I was jolted awake, checked immediately, and sure enough, it was red! We panicked, feeling like disaster had struck. Back then, a red code was like being a criminal. My wife and I were utterly lost. About an hour later, the Epidemic Prevention Office called, confirmed our identities, and said because my son was a close contact, he must go to a quarantine facility. We refused to go to the makeshift hospital. They said, "Don't worry, the child is young. We'll definitely arrange hotel quarantine, and one adult can accompany him." They gave us one or two hours to pack, then a special vehicle would pick them up. I thought, since my wife and child were going, I definitely wanted to be with them! I asked if I could go too, but was refused. Even if I quarantined, I'd have to stay in a separate room, and it would be at my own expense. Shortly after, healthcare workers in PPE knocked on the door with two sets of protective suits. My son, only about six years old, and my wife put on the large suits and went downstairs. In the elevator, my son waved goodbye to me. That scene remains unforgettable…