Communities pull together to combat spread of virus

In the nationwide fight against an invisible and barely-known enemy-the highly contagious novel coronavirus, ordinary people are making a difference. A grassroots anti-virus system can be seen in communities, supermarkets and streets all around Beijing.

"Please stop your car and take the temperature. It's normal. Remember to wear a mask."

At the entrance to Daqu village in Beijing's Daxing district, Shi Guohui, village Party chief, has set out a system for those entering the village including checking temperatures, ensuring masks are worn at all times and disinfecting vehicles.

The system is separated at each step to limit the possibility for human-to-human transmission.

"The gate is the frontline for the health and safety of our residents. You can never be too careful," Shi said.

Some 4,300 community workers are currently employed specifically for the prevention and control of the virus, according to a report in Beijing Daily on Feb 6. Their routine work includes recording resident travel information, disinfecting areas, promoting better knowledge in terms of hygiene and assisting people in quarantine.

A resident surnamed Liu in Mapo town of Shunyi district has come to appreciate these community workers directly, with them delivering needed items to her apartment while she has been in quarantine. With the health safety system in place, her orders are simply placed outside her door for her to put inside after the community worker leaves.

People who left Beijing for Spring Festival and later returned to the city are being advised to quarantine themselves at home to prevent any further spread of the virus, according to the city government.

With news of the outbreak's spread being a daily occurrence, more people have become concerned about their health condition.

Chen Jing, a doctor at the community healthcare service center in Guangwai subdistrict, currently takes more than 10 consultancy phone calls about the virus a day. Some residents who have flu-like symptoms fear they might be infected and there is a lot of anxiety around that, Chen said.

Chen has added more than 100 resident WeChat contacts in a week to answer inquiries. She and her colleagues have also made a short video to teach people how to wear masks and wash hands properly.

While doctors remain to help those in the capital, others are being sent to the epicenter of the outbreak.

Tang Ziren, a doctor who was sent to treat patients in critical condition during the SARS outbreak in 2003, flew with 13 colleagues from Chaoyang Hospital to Hubei province on Jan 17.

"I was 33 in 2003 and now I'm 50. Though my physical condition is not as good as at that time, I have the same faith that no difficulty cannot be overcome through joint effort," Tang said.