By Martin Quin Pollard

BEIJING (Reuters – Dong Zhigang was a Chinese truck driver who had just finished a job at Nantong, a coastal Chinese city. He then began the journey of four hours north to Lianyungang province. After nine long, sticky days, Dong Zhigang still hadn’t made it to his home in Jiangsu province.

Dong (aged 30) was one of many Chinese truckers who fell prey to anti-COVID laws and disruptions as authorities tried to keep China’s zero COVID policy.

Before he could get to the highway that led to his village, officials told him that he needed to complete 14 days of centralised quarantine at least 240/day followed by seven days home quarantine.

According to Reuters, the father of two said that he couldn’t pay for it. He was referring specifically to the truckers he waited in his car with.

Dong received a negative COVID result on that day. He had also not traveled to areas of medium and high risk. The officials, however, were not in the mood for any discussion.

He claimed that he had been told by someone: “I don’t care where your origins are.”

The drivers were provided with 2 meals per day by the locals, but no facilities for toilet or washing up.

Dong and his co-drivers were told Thursday night by more than a dozen officers wearing riot gear and SWAT officers that they needed to get out of their area immediately.

Dong said that the officers didn’t really care where drivers drove. Therefore, the officers said they didn’t care where drivers went according to Dong. The group accepted and moved on to another exit.

A village official later contacted them and suggested that they count the days they had parked along the highway toward their 14-day stay in centralized quarantine. This greatly reduced their cost.

Dong was desperate to return home and finish urgent farm work so he agreed to leave. On Friday, he was still waiting for his quarantine appointment. Reuters heard from Wang, a member of the group who said he’d stay.

Official data shows that hundreds of toll booths at highway exits have been closed across the nation this month.

Dong claimed, “I could drive seven- or eight hours straight without stopping,” “There wasn’t anywhere to stop on the highway.”

This number dropped after a push by the government earlier in week to open routes. However, the government reported that as of Wednesday night midnight, there were still 91 toll-station highway exits in Jiangsu and 44 service stations on highways.

Jiangsu government has not responded to Reuters requests for comment regarding this matter or Dong’s long delay.

While COVID-related needs vary greatly across China, some localities have taken increasingly prudent approaches in recent years.

Dong claimed that his orders and earnings have dropped by half from March to account for the COVID policy he encountered.

He witnessed several of the accidents that occurred this month, and he worries about fatigue.

He stated, “I don’t think I want to drive anymore after this quarantine ends.” “I think I will remain on the farm.”