Rui Severino is in Wuhan, the city identified as the epicentre of the coronavirus, a city where everyone he knows is desperate to leave.
But as Australia and other countries continue with their efforts to remove all of their citizens from Wuhan, Mr Rui says he is not putting up his hand to leave. He says it is important that he stays with his workmates and horses.
"I feel safer here," he told SBS in Portuguese. "I can’t see outside Wuhan the same level of control that there’s in here."
“My sister, closer friends, everybody wants me to leave but they may say that because they don't understand why I want to stay.
"I have a team of eight people, I have my animals, I cannot leave them alone. It is part of my personality, this is the type of person I am.”
Mr Rui believes the numbers are high in Wuhan because the cases are being thoroughly identified. He says he takes confidence in seeing the entire city in lockdown. No-one is on the streets and people can’t go to work or to school.
"There was not a case of someone becoming unwell or ill, which gives me a certain amount of security so I can stay calm" Source: Facebook
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Christmas Island has been designated as the quarantine area for potentially more than 600 Australians trapped in China's Hubei province.
“I agree, I think it is a good idea, they must be put in quarantine so they are not a threat to the Australian society. I just don’t think the hysteria shown by some people wanting to get out at all costs is helpful”
As he lives in a more distant neighborhood from the city, Mr Rui is allowed to go to work.
"I have my team, workmates, my animals, I cannot leave them alone, it is part of my personality, this is who I am.” Source: Supplied
“People only go out to buy basic products. Only two weeks from now, which is the virus incubation period, only then will we know who is saved and who is not. We are, all of us, who live in China, in a quarantine period, I can also be a carrier of the virus and not know. "
"I feel safer here than anywhere else in China, or anywhere in the world. We feel safe because the control is great, we have to take our temperature everyday, we are disinfected, and the surrounding areas are constantly being disinfected."
"We take our temperature every day, we are disinfected, and the surrounding areas are constantly being disinfected." Source: Facebook
"The people who work here in our stables have no contact with anyone who is in the city, strangers do not enter here. There is no case of someone becoming unwell or ill [where I am], which gives me a certain amount of security so I can stay calm," he said.
Although he adds he has concerns for his children in Australia.
"I fear for my children who live in Melbourne."
Mixed reactions in Wuhan
In Wuhan, Mr Rui says people were initially angry at local officials but are now "more divided".
"I feel a good response from the population in relation to the government's measures, which was to try to contain the virus and prohibit transportation.
"Elsewhere, outside Wuhan City, the situation is more complicated. I don't know if the government is giving all the information it has available."
The SARS virus epidemic was initially concealed by the Chinese government in 2002-2003. The outbreak killed more than 700 people and infected more than 8,000, according to the World Health Organization. Mr Rui says that experience would have made the Chinese government act more quickly this time around, but there is still suspicion.
“We know that in 2003 China made a big mistake in hiding the figures for the spread of SARS. I have no reason to doubt Wuhan's numbers [for the latest coronavirus outbreak]. But people don’t know what is happening in other cities. The government may not be giving clear information about the numbers.”
"Not leaving": On his way to work at the stables, Rui goes through various checkpoints Source: Facebook
"At the moment, we are in 15 and I am the only one who wants to stay, but I understand how the others feel.
"They live in the city, they cannot go to work, and they are quarantined, it must be very distressing. “
The group keeps in touch via WeChat where they exchange information, updates and look after each other.
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Racehorse trainer Rui Severino (left) works at the Yulong Jockey Club in Wuhan, a training centre with more than 500 horses Source: Facebook
