Cycle through eerily empty streets of Wuhan, city in coronavirus quarantine

Steven Li had spent 11 days holed up in his apartment in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicentre of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

So on Sunday, he decided to take a short bike ride to pick up groceries.

"I just wanted some chocolate, to be honest," Li told CBC Radio'sMetro Morningtoday.

The experience was like being in a movie about the apocalypse, he explained.

"I saw probably 20 people," he said from the city of 11 million. "I saw maybe three, four cars."

Watch: Take a trip through the streets ofWuhan during the city-wide quarantine:

Canadian cycles through the quiet streets of Wuhan

5 years ago

Duration 1:45

A Canadian teaching in Wuhan takes to the streets on his bike and comments on what he sees.

The video shows Li, who is from Toronto but currently teaching in Wuhan,cycling through the eerily quietstreets.

"It feels good to be outside," he can be heard saying. "There's not a lot of people. It's kind of scary, though."

Every now and again, there are signs of city life. Li encounters a woman skipping rope, and others giving out bags of produce. Everyone iswearing masks and protective gear.

Canadians looking to lenda hand

Li says the local hospitals in Wuhan have seen shortages in medical supplies, saying they're looking for masks in particular.

That's why he started raising money to help the front line medical staff and patients.

And he'snot the only one lending a helping hand.

Aloysius Lo, chief executive of Oasis Global Partners, started an initiative to source and send medical materials to Wuhan, saying the situation there is "quite desperate."

Watch: Canadian businessman describes struggle to send medical supplies to China.

Canadian businessman describes struggle to send medical supplies to China

5 years ago

Duration 5:34

Aloysius Lo says his employees in Wuhan see the need for medical supplies as 'quite desperate.'

The initiative is aiming to send 50,000 pieces of medical equipment including gloves, goggles, masks, gowns and medical caps.

"The amount of equipment we're sending over is probably able to support a hospital or two for about one or two days," Lo said.

But so far, with shortages of supplies hitting Canada as well, Lo says getting their hands on the medical equipmenthas become increasingly difficult and expensive.

"We are paying about double, three times what the normal prices are," Lo said.

Lo says the company is 60 per cent into its goal, and it is committed to finishing the job.

"We want to set an example for everyone else to help," he said.

Evacuating Canadians from Wuhan

The Chinese government has reportedthat at least 427 people have died from coronavirusand more than 20,000 have been infected.

Global Affairs Canada has chartered a flightto get about 300 people,including Canadian citizens and some permanent residents with children,out of Wuhan andHubei province starting Thursday morning.

The plane will land at the Canadian Forces base in Trenton, Ont., where all passengers and crew will spend 14 days in quarantine.

Li says his spot on the flight is confirmed, and he's looking forward to heading home.

"It feels good," Li said. "It feels like the government is caring for their citizens. It's a nice feeling."