While hundreds of Canadians seek to leave China as the coronavirus spreads, one woman said she plans to return to the center of the outbreak.

Tanya Thiessen, principal of the Canadian International School of Guangzhou, told Global News that students and staff need her.

"All of our teachers, as well as students, need to pass a quarantine phase in China that shows they are well and can return to campus," she said. "The quarantine phase is anywhere from 10 to 14 days to ensure that you do not have any symptoms."

Thiessen, a resident of Edmonton, Alberta, said she is cautious, but not fearful. She is attempting to recruit other teachers. She looks forward to traveling in China in the new school year.

Trevor Metz, originally from British Columbia, now owns a restaurant in Beijing and has lived in China for 15 years.

"I'm not that worried," he said. "While this is a very serious situation, I also think it's being quite hyped and the fears are almost irrational at times," he said.

"In a city of 20 million, absolutely nothing is happening on the roads, people are staying home. I'm concerned about the economy here in China. I can't get staff back to my pub because they're locked down in their home villages and they're not allowed to travel to Beijing."

Metz said he hopes things will calm down in the coming weeks.

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