Close-up of life in the epicenter of Cham Puong

Thanh Chung - Thanh Cuong• July 17, 2021 06:42

(Baonghean.vn) - On the 5th day of the lockdown, life in Cham Puong village has begun to stabilize again. However, due to travel restrictions, people's daily activities are facing many difficulties.

Cham Puong village is located in Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district. 100% of the population is Khmu ethnic group. It is one of the most disadvantaged villages in Tuong Duong district. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Cham Puong village has 190 households and 978 people, of which 114 are poor and 62 are near-poor. Their livelihoods mainly depend on slash-and-burn farming and raising livestock and poultry. Most of the young people go to the fields or work far away, leaving only children and the elderly in the village. Photo: Thanh Cuong

On July 13, Cham Puong village discovered its first Covid-19 infection. Three people in a family were found to be infected with Covid-19 when they came to the Tuong Duong District Medical Center for examination and treatment. In just 4 days, the number of infections in the poor village reached 21, equivalent to 5% of the population. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Accordingly, Cham Puong village has 131 people identified as F1 who must be taken to centralized quarantine. 152 F2 people self-quarantine and monitor at home. The entire Luong Minh commune follows Directive 16; establishes a medical quarantine area in Cham Puong village to prevent and control the epidemic. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Currently, in 3 residential clusters along 3 streams in Cham Puong village, everywhere are ropes and signs hanging on houses with people quarantined to prevent and fight the epidemic... Photo: Thanh Cuong

With her son having to go into centralized quarantine, Ms. Lu Thi An (42 years old) is taking care of 5 grandchildren aged 5-7 alone. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Mrs. An has 4 sons, all 4 of them work as factory workers, only the youngest son has just returned and has just been quarantined. Of the 4 children, 2 are married. Before leaving, the children left 5 grandchildren for their grandparents to take care of... Photo: Thanh Cuong

The Covid-19 outbreak has left the entire village locked down and unable to go to the fields or forests to find food for their grandchildren, making the grandparents very worried. "Right now, the family has only one box of instant noodles, one bag of rice, and some vegetables and fruits sent and distributed by the district and commune. We don't know what will happen in the long run..." - Mrs. An said. Photo: Thanh Cuong

At the time of the outbreak, Cham Puong village had 784 people in the area, while 40 people worked on the fields in the distant mountains. They returned to the village scattered along many mountain trails. As soon as they returned home, the police and medical forces sent a working group to conduct tracing and take rapid test samples. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Previously, when the epidemic had not yet broken out, the people of Cham Puong village were quite subjective, negligent, and not aware of the dangers of the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In the past few days, the police, medical staff, and commune officials have regularly gone out to remind, propagate, and advise, so people have clearly understood about the epidemic, complied with epidemic prevention measures, and ensured home isolation according to regulations. Photo: Thanh Cuong

To prevent and control the epidemic, Tuong Duong district has established an anti-epidemic command center located right in Cham Puong village, headed by a Vice Chairman of the district People's Committee, with the participation of leaders of the police and the district military command. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Union members, youth, and women's union members were mobilized to participate in logistics work, serving functional forces on duty in the epidemic area. Photo: Thanh Cuong