Woman fired and to be deported after breaking quarantine in Beijing

PETALING JAYA (March 20): An Australian woman who defied her quarantine imposition in Beijing has found out too late that the regulation is not to be taken lightly. She has been fired by her company and will be deported.

The woman, identified by her surname Liang, went out jogging a day after she returned to China on March 14, reported news portal Shanghaiist today. All inbound travellers are to observe a 14-day self-quarantine as part of the China’s move to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Her transgression was caught by a neighbour at her Chaoyang residential community, who video-recorded Liang in her running garb, protesting against a neighbourhood security guard telling her to stay indoors.

She argued she had to stay healthy. “When the guard said that she should at least wear a mask, she refused.”

Eventually, Liang resorted to playing the victim, crying out “help, I’m being molested” though the guard did not touch her.

The confrontation was resolved upon the police’s arrival, who managed to calm her down and make her return to her apartment.

However, the consequences of her actions were more far-reaching than she would have expected.

The video went viral on Chinese social media, and Liang promptly got axed from her executive position in Bayer, which released a statement on Weibo to that effect.

The company further urged all employees to comply with the country’s relevant regulations and restrictions, and voiced its support for the Chinese government’s efforts in controlling the pandemic.

Yesterday, the Beijing Public Security Bureau declared Liang’s residence permit revoked. She now has to leave China by a certain unstated date.

Neighbourhood security guards were reported saying they haven’t seen Liang out of her apartment since that day.

The incident has probably prompted Beijing to tighten its quarantine regulations now, where almost all inbound international travellers are to be quarantined for 14 days at designated quarantine centres instead of their own homes.