MINNEAPOLIS — Nine days ago, Yulin Yin left his home in Minneapolis for a three-week visit to Wuhan, the Chinese city of 11 million where he grew up and where his parents still live.
Yin planned to enjoy the company of his relatives, catch up with old friends from school and celebrate the Chinese New Year. Before he departed on Jan. 19, he and his wife, Ann, heard some whispers that a pneumonia outbreak might be occurring, so they called their doctor.
The concerns did not seem significant enough to halt Yulin's trip; no alerts had been issued and there was no widespread media coverage.
"Yulin," the doctor told Ann Yin, "should be fine."
Within days of his arrival, the city of Wuhan then became the epicenter of coronavirus, relegating millions to their homes during a full lockdown. Public transportation was suspended, private vehicle travel was banned, and only essential shops and markets could remain open for business.
Speaking with his wife over the phone, Yulin has described the city as a ghost-town.
"He's using the term 'surreal, like a science-fiction movie," Ann said. "He's happy to spend extra time with his family, which is very nice, but he's also scared. Nervous. There's an unknown."
Yulin, a Hennepin County IT worker, had scheduled a return trip for Feb. 10.
That now seems unlikely.
"We're not quite sure what each day is going to bring," Ann said. "Each morning we are just bracing ourselves for whatever challenge is ahead."
Yulin and Ann have two children — one away at college, and one in elementary school. They are all eager to see Yulin back home in Minnesota, where he's lived the past two decades after originally coming to the U.S. to study at Iowa State University.
Ann does feel slightly better this week after communication with Representative Dean Phillips, Representative Ilhan Omar and Senator Tina Smith's offices. All are aware of Yulin's situation and have pledged to help if needed.
But it could take weeks for the lockdown to end.
"I will say, his family — they're all healthy, he's safe, and so we know where he's at," Ann said. "I feel optimistic, but I do know that we've got a long road ahead of us before Yulin gets to come home."