'Shields' at anti-Covid checkpoints

24/7 on duty at checkpoints

At 12 noon on June 18, in the scorching heat and strong Lao wind, at the checkpoint across Yen Xuan bridge, located in Tho Toan hamlet, Trung Phuc Cuong commune, bordering Duc Tho district (Ha Tinh), the epidemic prevention and control force had to both carry out the task of controlling people and vehicles entering the area and find a way to secure the temporary shack covered with a thin tarpaulin that was about to be blown down to the field by the wind.

The epidemic prevention checkpoint at Yen Xuan bridge, located in Tho Toan hamlet, Trung Phuc Cuong commune, Nam Dan district. Photo: D.C.

After finishing work, and quickly eating a meal brought by the Youth Union and Women's Union officers, Captain Vo Trong Hung - Trung Phuc Cuong Commune Police (Nam Dan District) said: At the time the first positive case appeared in the province, the checkpoint was set up at the Yen Xuan bridge point, then moved here. The members take turns to be on duty 24/24 hours, each shift consists of 5 people, 2 police officers, 2 military officers and a medical officer.

In particular, the police force is responsible for blocking, regulating, and diverting traffic, guiding people to have their temperature measured, make medical declarations, and implement epidemic prevention and control measures according to regulations. According to Captain Hung, this is one of the gateways to the area, which is important in epidemic prevention and control work, so despite the difficulties and hardships, the soldiers "stationed" at the checkpoint always encourage each other to complete their tasks well.

Indeed, they have to work in extremely hot conditions, lacking all living necessities, hasty meals, sometimes just a pack of instant noodles or a loaf of bread, and most of the people on duty at the checkpoint have to temporarilyisolationfamily. “As for my family, my husband is on duty here, after his shift he goes back to the commune headquarters to rest, my wife works in the Anesthesia and Resuscitation Department at the Oncology Hospital and also has to stay at the hospital, so our young children have been left to their grandparents for the past month,” said Captain Hung.

Similarly, Major Le Thanh Luong, assistant to the Vinh City Military Command, was assigned to "on duty" at the Ben Thuy 1 bridge checkpoint and has not been home for more than half a month. According to Luong, the epidemic situation is increasingly tense, and he is also worried about his relatives and wife and children at home. However, with the role and responsibility of a military officer, when taking on a task, he always determines that his task will end when the epidemic is over.

After half a month of being on duty at the checkpoint without returning home, Major Le Thanh Luong only took the time to FaceTime his wife and children after shift change. Photo: D.C.

Not only at the checkpoints of Ben Thuy 1 and 2 bridges, Yen Xuan bridge, Cua Hoi bridge and in Nam Kim commune (bordering Duc Tho district, Ha Tinh), at the blockade and isolation points in the province, in addition to officers and soldiers from the Police, Army, Border Guard, the militia and security forces of the villages also "brave the sun and rain" day and night to prevent the epidemic.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Na - Deputy Commander of the Military Command of Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City, at 2:00 a.m. on June 15, when she received information that there was a positive case in the area, although her husband was working far away, she left her young child with her mother-in-law and immediately set off. After setting up checkpoints with her teammates to block and isolate areas related to the case, she was present in every corner, helping the chemical force carry out its tasks, then participating in transporting and receiving goods sent by organizations and individuals to the people...

According to Ms. Na, overcoming the hardships and fatigue, it is a source of pride to be able to contribute a small part of the effort to participate in the fight against the epidemic. It is known that Ms. Na is 1 of 2 female militia soldiers out of more than 50 militia soldiers of Hung Dung ward participating in the task of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic this time.

Each person has a part to do at the checkpoints, quarantine areas, and blockade points. Photo: D.C.

Or like Mr. Hoang Van Thinh, nearly 60 years old this year, in charge of security work in block 8, Ha Huy Tap ward, normally drives a motorbike taxi, but when there was someone infected with Covid-19 in the ward, he volunteered to participate in epidemic prevention.

Working at the intersection of Mai Hac De and Hoang Van Thu streets every day, Mr. Thinh's task is to receive goods sent from outside to people in areas 5 and 8. A somewhat meticulous job, because according to Mr. Thinh, if he does not have a basic understanding of the households in the area, it is easy to make mistakes, and there are also many cases where relatives cannot be contacted, he has to find and deliver them to the place...

Continue to add forces at key points

Up to now, thousands of officers and soldiers of the Police, Army, Border Guard, along with militia, village security... are always on duty 24/7 at the gateway checkpoints, quarantine areas, and blockades in the province, so the security and order situation is guaranteed.

100 officers and soldiers working in many units under Nghe An Provincial Police reinforced Dien Chau district. Photo: Xuan Bac - Vuong Linh

With the spirit of “fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy”, at noon on June 16, when Nghe An provincial authorities confirmed a positive case of Covid-19 in Dien Chau district, Nghe An police leaders decided to send 100 officers and soldiers to Dien Chau district, many of whom are female officers. This force has been trained by the provincial police with the necessary knowledge and skills in epidemic prevention and control.

Present at the checkpoints on the morning of June 17, Colonel Pham The Tung - DirectorProvincial Policehas directed Dien Chau District Police to quickly and appropriately assign tasks to the reinforcement force based on the actual situation, closely coordinate with relevant units to focus on tracing F1 and F2; ensure security and safety at concentrated quarantine areas and epidemic control checkpoints.

The Director of the Provincial Police also emphasized that it is necessary to prioritize all resources for epidemic prevention, but must not neglect patrolling, controlling, and fighting against crime. In the coming time, Nghe An Provincial Police will continue to direct the strengthening of drug, criminal, and mobile police forces for Dien Chau district, to prevent criminals from taking advantage of the epidemic situation to cause insecurity and disorder.

The Provincial Military Command dispatched troops to support Dien Chau district in epidemic prevention. Photo: Trong Kien

Together with the police force,Ministry of Military AffairsThe province has also mobilized over 100 officers and soldiers to strengthen local epidemic prevention. In addition, the Military Command of localities has mobilized 100% of military units and militia forces in the area to coordinate with police, medical forces, and local authorities to urgently track down, block off areas, and prepare quarantine areas day and night according to the direction of the Steering Committee for epidemic prevention and control of localities to best ensure the work of preventing and controlling the Covid-19 epidemic and security and order, and epidemic control checkpoints.

Colonel Duong Minh Hien - Deputy Commander of the Provincial Military Command said that the officers and soldiers mobilized by the Provincial Military Command are all military medical staff and officers with experience in disease prevention and control to perform duties at quarantine areas and checkpoints...

Faced with the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, from 0:00 on June 19, implementing Directive 16, Vinh city has directed functional forces to set up 13 checkpoints surrounding the gateways to control people and vehicles entering and exiting. However, in the past few days, and in the coming days, the weather is forecast to be extremely hot. The outdoor temperature sometimes reaches 45 degrees Celsius, many checkpoints do not have a single tree, making it very difficult for the forces to stay at the checkpoints.

In that situation, on the evening of June 19, Nghe An Department of Transport coordinated with Thach Thanh Tourism & Trade Transport Company Limited to hand over 5 buses to Vinh City People's Committee to transfer to checkpoints, to help functional forces have a place to rest when the weather is too hot or when it rains heavily. Mr. Hoang Phu Hien - Director of Nghe An Department of Transport said: In the immediate future, the Department will coordinate with transport units to hand over buses to 5 checkpoints; in the near future, depending on the situation and demand, more will be arranged.

Thus, with the participation of many forces, including the great contribution of the armed forces in the province, we believe that the work of epidemic prevention and control will soon be highly effective, and the epidemic will soon be controlled and pushed back.