Trucks being used to spray sanitiser down the streets of Zhengzhou in attempt to curb the coronavirus.

An Auckland woman who self-quarantined for two weeks after returning from holiday in China says retaining a positive mindset was "critical" to staying sane.

Albany resident Tonia Xu travelled to her family's hometown of Zhengzhou, 500kms north of the coronavirus epicentre at Wuhan, so her 14-month-old daughter Mia could meet family for the first time.

Arriving on January 26, just as the Chinese government imposed a quasi-quarantine around Wuhan in an effort to contain the virus, Xu says no-one appreciated how big the outbreak would become.

Supplied/Tonia Xu Tonia Xu described her flights from Zhengzhou in China to Auckland with her 14-month-old daughter Mia as "the most stressful time in my life" due to coronavirus fears.

As more information came to light about the deadliness of the Covid-19 virus, Xu realised she would need to isolate herself upon arriving back in New Zealand.

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"I didn't want to be the one arriving in New Zealand and the first person [to bring coronavirus home]."

Xu described the journey home with her daughter on January 29 as "the most stressful time in my life".

Drones with speakers are being used in China to warn people to register themselves with health authorities when travelling between cities.

She said China Southern Airlines staff wearing protective eye gear, masks and boiler suits boarded the plane to spray sanitiser throughout the aircraft, however she still felt nervous as Mia kept removing her mask.

"You could hear when people started coughing. It was scary."

During the pair's stopover at Guangzhou, Xu said the airport was "just empty".

"I've been to Guangzhou many times, that was the first time ever I've seen an airport that empty. The restaurants were empty, the duty free shops were empty."

Upon her return to New Zealand, Xu, a sales representative at Stuff, underwent quarantine with Mia and her husband Jonas Lu, in case others on her flights had visited Wuhan.

Daily food consumption for her and her family was her main concern.

"In New Zealand it is very easy to get your stuff delivered to your place. You don't have to physically be in contact with other people."

But she said it was challenging not being able to go to the supermarket whenever they needed.

"You can't enjoy that sort of freedom," she said, adding that it was hard to comprehend not having the freedom she would normally have.

Xu would fill the time by cooking, which she enjoyed, as she felt it was important to try and stay relaxed.

She would also try and take a "very active" Mia outside for some fresh air every so often, while avoiding peak times.

"Your mindset is quite critical. you have to be positive as much as you can."

After two weeks of "anxious waiting", Xu returned to work on Monday, after experiencing no symptoms.

The Ministry of Health guidelines say anyone who has arrived from or transited through mainland China should self-isolate for 14 days.

Self-isolation means staying away from situations where you might come in close contact with others such as social gatherings, work, school, child care/pre-school centres, university, polytechnic and other education providers, church, sports gatherings, and restaurants.

A group of 157 people quarantined at Whangaparaoa due to the coronavirus outbreak in China were released on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Xu's family in China, who were enduring prolonged isolation and invasive health checks, have been sending regular videos of what life there has become.

One of those videos showed a row of trucks spraying sanitising chemicals down a street, while another showed a drone with speakers telling motorists on a highway to register with health authorities when travelling to another city.

"It's like something you see in a movie, not in real life. It is really intense."