Two months of luck (all things considered).
Time flies when one is locked down (up?) in the isocubes. Near two months ago we got word of a building cleaner testing positive that sent us into a lockdown that has persisted until very recently. Our building has finally passed the coveted two week positive case free milestone to now transition into a 'Precautionary …
Continue reading Two months of luck (all things considered).
Shanghai Lockdown Day 9: Descending Maslow
It started with people fearing two weeks+ of detention in a quarantine centre over the potential health risk of Omicron. Now how long before people start weighing that loss of freedom vs. food security? How long before some soul starts to look for ways to end up (or remain) in quarantine, with two weeks+ of …
Shanghai Lockdown (Puxi) Day 6: Mixed signals
So the original messaging from the government stated that PuXi would be out of lockdown by this point (source: https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2203313825/). Yeah, that didn't happen (nor was it remotely realistic honestly). Now it is simply stated as 'indefinite', though rumors are circulating about a week or two further. Given the near daily testing now - this …
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Shanghai Lockdown (Puxi) Day 2: Signs of life.
PCR test came back negative (the 5th in a month). Not particularly surprised as the only trips outside the apartment since March 4th could be counted on a single hand. Worried about COVID, not so much. Worried about being ingested by the Chinese COVID healthcare system, very much so. Why one may ask? Experience of …
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Shanghai Lockdown (Puxi) Day 1: Deja Vu
Sense of deja vu but with an odd combination of both more clarity yet more confusion. The locals have a better understanding for this iteration of lockdown (vs. our experience in Feb 2020), yet the management thereof is coming across as far more fragmented and uncertain. To help bring you up to speed: Omicrom BA.2 …
That aged like milk.
Before: After: Never a dull day in Shanghai.
Spring is coming! (and a desk with a view).
The air is clearing and the temperature rising. The best months of the year, March/April/May, approach.
Some good news…
In 2019 the Central Government announced plans for some major changes in the taxation system that included discontinuation at the end of 2021 of preferential treatment for one time annual bonuses. In addition, 2022 would see the end of tax exemption for benefits (in reality, more akin to tax deductibility for a predetermined percentage of …