Community workers guard Beijing residents against outbreak
The Beijing municipal government has called on community workers from more than 7,000 communities and villages in the city to gear up and fight against the novel coronavirus.
In addition to enforcing the quarantine policy in a strict manner, Yan and her colleagues deliver daily necessities for the elderly and families in need. They also spray disinfectant in public areas, such as hallways and elevators. But what concerns Yan most is the mental wellbeing of the residents.
"Many residents are nervous after staying at home for so long. The community hotline and my personal cellphone keep ringing. I am almost becoming the psychological advisers for these residents," she says.
To ease their fears, Yan issues an official notice about the community's prevention and control work in the WeChat group every day, explaining how many people who returned from Hubei are under quarantine, and that more and more families are out of the 14-day quarantine period.
"People get nervous when they lack information, so we should tell them the facts. Luckily, my residents choose to believe and stand with us in this battle against the virus," Yan says.
Ban Jizong, a 76-year-old resident in Yan's community, says he is not afraid of the coronavirus and volunteers to give a hand to the community workers. "If you're strong like me, you'll never be infected and beaten by the virus," Ban says. "And even if something happens, I have no regrets in life."
