Coronavirus: Aussie woman facing deportation from China for jogging during quarantine

An Australian woman in China has lost her job and had her visa stripped for going for a jog while under enforced quarantine.

An Australian woman in China has been sacked from her job and is facing deportation after violating a mandatory 14-day coronavirus quarantine by jogging outside her apartment.

The woman prompted an outraged response from the public when footage began to circulate of her arguing with a community worker as she exercised outside her apartment, telling the neighbour: “I’m just trying to stay healthy.”

Following the confrontation, she was fired from her job at a pharmaceutical company, Beijing authorities cancelled her visa and she is facing deportation.

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A video uploaded to Chinese social media platform Weibo on Tuesday appeared to capture the woman running on Sunday afternoon, before being approached by a neighbour who pointed out that she was violating quarantine.

She replied, “I’m just trying to keep healthy,” continuing to raise her voice as the argument became heated.

“I need to go running. I need to work out. If I fall sick, who will take care of me? Will you come?” she shouted as she opened the door to her apartment.

This is how seriously China takes its coronavirus quarantine measures:

A Chinese Australian woman was fired from her job in Beijing and ordered to leave China after sparking outrage for breaking quarantine rules to go for a jog

Video of her quarrelling with a community worker: pic.twitter.com/aUmgaIjGVa

— Nectar Gan (@Nectar_Gan) March 20, 2020

A second video shows two police officers in face masks at her door, reiterating the country’s strict pandemic control measures.

“I tell you, no matter you’re a Chinese or a foreigner, you have to comply with the law of the People’s Republic of China,” one man is heard saying as the woman tells the officers she has an Australian passport.

Moments later, two police officers in face masks show up at her door, telling her she has to go into 14-day self-quarantine after returning from overseas.

“I tell you, no matter you’re a Chinese or a foreigner, you have to comply with the law of the People’s Republic of China.” pic.twitter.com/Dn3ydJRCO0

— Nectar Gan (@Nectar_Gan) March 20, 2020

The footage went viral, and she was stood down by pharmaceutical company Bayer the next day with the company posting a statement on its official Weibo account stating it had decided to fire her effective immediately.

“According to relevant rules, the company has decided to dismiss the employee, effective immediately,” Bayer China said.

“All employees of Bayer China should strictly obey the various measures imposed by local governments to fight the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as local law and regulations.”

The statement was released following a vicious social media pile on, where viewers of the footage unleashed fury over the woman’s “selfish” act, condemning her for not respecting regulations.

“Our nation won’t welcome people who don’t respect our regulations,” one Weibo user said.

Another commented: “She is so selfish. She didn’t care about our community’s safety and health risks, and even insulted the community staff with her prejudice and privilege.”

On Thursday, local police announced the decision to strip her of her visa, which was originally valid until September, and told her to leave China.

A time frame for when she must do so has not been specified.

The decision comes as the number of new domestic infections in mainland China fell to zero for the first time since the outbreak.

Beijing authorities recently announced strict infection control rules that all overseas travellers arriving in the city from March 16 must to undergo a 14-day quarantine at a designated hotel, or other location at their own expense.

Those who arrived in the city before that date have been told to self-isolate at home.