The former azulgrana experienced the outbreak of coronavirus in China and demands that countries now suffering the virus should also be as strict as China was.
Paulinho, the former Barça player and who is now playing for Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande, witnessed the epidemic spread throughout the country, causing more than 80,000 infections and the death of more than 3,200 deaths, according to the latest data.
Although initially they did not consider leaving China out of fear, with the Chinese Superliga suspended 'sine die', Paulinho chose to travel to his hometown Sao Paulo with his family.
“I chose to go to Brazil to be close to my family because I knew it would be long without being able to play games.” Paulinho explains to Mundo Deportivo.
On February 25th he flew from Sao Paulo to Dubai, where for 15 days he completed a mini-preseason with Guangzhou Evergrande to keep fit a few weeks after Chinese Super League and the Asian Champions League.
"I would recommend that people stay at home and wash their hands constantly" he said, "This is no joke, because of the experience of China, I believe that the rest of the countries should take the measures that were taken there: people must lock themselves up at home.”
"If they ask me for advice, I would recommend that people stay at home and wash their hands constantly," adds the former Barcelona midfielder.
"I flew to Brazil to be with the family and now, after a week training with my former Corinthians team."
Good results comes out due to the measures taken by the Chinese government, yesterday, for the first time, there was no new case of coronavirus in China.
In fact, little by little, China is starting to return to normal and although Paulinho does not yet have a specific date for his return, Paulinho reveals that in a week he will have to fly back to China. “When I arrive, I will have to spend two weeks of quarantine at home, so I don't think it will take long to fly back because it is said that the league would resume early in May,” he says.