Braving the rain to man the checkpoint.

At 10 PM on September 8th, the weather changed, and another storm hit.Hurricane ConsonAs the impending rain poured down, the entire city of Vinh was covered in a blanket of white. The rain intensified, the wind howled, and at the checkpoints nestled in the corners of the streets, police officers, militia members, and even elderly veterans continued to silently man their posts.

On a rainy night, an old veteran and a young riot police officer huddle under a portable umbrella while on duty at a checkpoint. Photo: Tien Dong

Stopping at the checkpoint located on Le Viet Thuat road, at the end of Hung Loc commune, bordering Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc district), I encountered an elderly veteran alongside soldiers.Mobile policeThe children huddled under a portable umbrella placed at the edge of the road. Every now and then, when a vehicle passed, they would leave their shelter and approach the car door to check their documents. When the road was empty, they would return to their spot, tell each other stories about their families and hometowns, and then...wait for the night to pass.

Despite the late hour and heavy rain, many vehicles and people were still entering and leaving the city. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Dang Khac Que, head of the Veterans Association in My Trung hamlet (Hung Loc district), has been serving at this checkpoint for over 20 days, since Vinh City implemented its second social distancing measure under Directive 16. Despite his age, while the entire city is struggling to fight the pandemic and other forces are focusing on contact tracing and protecting green areas, he volunteered to take on this task. He regularly goes to the checkpoint every day, sometimes working day shifts, sometimes night shifts, never missing a day. Mr. Que says he only hopes the pandemic will end soon so life can return to normal, because at the checkpoint, he has witnessed many people who are forced to go out to make a living, constantly fearing they might contract Covid-19 at any moment.

More than anyone else, Captain Pham Cong Ngu probably hopes that Vinh City will soon bring the Covid-19 pandemic under control, so that he can return home to welcome his first child with his beloved wife. Photo: Tien Dong

Working alongside Mr. Que on duty was Captain Pham Cong Ngu, an officer from the Mobile Police Unit.Nghe An Provincial PoliceCaptain Ngự was deployed here when Vinh City went into social distancing. Like many of his colleagues, he hasn't been home for months. After the first quarantine period from June 19th to July 3rd, he had just completed his mandatory quarantine at his unit and planned to visit home, but then he had to return to the outpost. More than anyone else, Captain Ngự is hoping that the Covid-19 pandemic will be contained soon. In the flickering light of the road in the rain, he looked into the distance and said, "My wife is due this September. I really hope the city can control the pandemic soon so I can leave the outpost and go home to welcome my first child."

The stormy weather made the mission more difficult, but all officers and soldiers persevered in holding their posts. Photo: Tien Dong

In recent days, Vinh City has resumed social distancing according to Directive 16. However, two wards, 35 blocks/hamlets, and one apartment building spread across 13 wards and communes are still implementing a stricter level of Directive 16, with the principle of "stay where you are." To ensure disease prevention and control and limit movement, in addition to 14 checkpoints at the main entrances and exits of the city, 29 checkpoints managing branch roads and residential roads connecting to neighboring communes of Nghi Loc and Hung Nguyen districts, checkpoints in lockdown areas are still being maintained and must operate 24/7.

Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Anh, a police officer from Hung Loc commune, who is on duty at the checkpoint in the My Ha hamlet lockdown area (Hung Loc), where Covid-19 cases have been continuously detected in recent days, said: "This checkpoint is staffed by one regular police officer, along with militia members and other police officers. Although all the patients have been isolated beforehand, we are always aware that we cannot be complacent. Therefore, day and night, people are not allowed to enter or leave this lockdown area."

Checkpoints in areas under lockdown due to Covid-19 cases are being strictly enforced. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Le Xuan Hai, a militia member from Ngu Phuc hamlet (Hung Loc), added that because My Ha hamlet is under lockdown, besides the regular police of the commune, most of the participating forces are deployed from other hamlets. Despite the rain and wind, we are determined to complete our nhiệm vụ, hoping the pandemic will end soon so we can return to normal life.

I arrived at the checkpoint at the beginning of Cao Xuan Huy Street, where it intersects with Tran Phu Street, blocking the entrance and exit to Hong Son Ward – an area where security measures are being implemented at an even higher level than usual.Directive No.16It was already past midnight, but the officers and soldiers were still braving the rain to inspect every vehicle passing through. Because Hong Son ward is home to many distributors and warehouses supplying essential goods, trucks carrying goods with QR codes frequently enter and exit day and night.

Soldiers on duty at a checkpoint on Cao Xuan Huy Street, a roadblock at the entrance to the center of Hong Son ward, where security measures are being implemented at an even higher level than Directive 16. Photo: Tien Dong

Lieutenant Tran Hai Hoan, working at the Mobile Police Department of the Provincial Police, who is on duty at this checkpoint, shared: "The forces here were reinforced when Vinh City switched from Directive 16 to a higher level, because this area is still a hotspot for the risk of outbreaks. While many other checkpoints have been withdrawn, this one is still being maintained."

Despite the heavy rain that blanketed Vinh City, officers and soldiers still completed their duties in controlling traffic at checkpoints. Photo: PV

Due to the heavy traffic, the three officers on duty at this checkpoint have almost no time to rest. This checkpoint has six people in one team, divided into four shifts per day, with three officers on duty each shift. After their shift ends, they return to the assembly point and have six hours to rest and eat before returning to the checkpoint, day after day. Although it's six hours, getting back to the assembly point, showering, and eating can sometimes take an hour, especially during the midday and morning shifts. Often, they don't even have time to rest before having to return to the checkpoint. I asked Hoan, "So how do you manage your rest time?" Hoan replied, "During this peak of the pandemic, we have to arrange our time as efficiently as possible." "The worst thing is the rainy days, when our clothes and belongings don't dry in time to get back to the checkpoint," Hoan said, then laughed.

Despite the hardships, the functional forces at the checkpoints have never wavered or neglected their important duties during this time when the risk of the epidemic remains high. Therefore, the spirit of fighting the epidemic like fighting an enemy, and the unwavering will of the forces at the checkpoints, serve as an example that spreads the spirit of serving the people among functional forces at this time.