Local officials, community workers step forward to help Beijing residents

Lyu, the neighborhood official, said it is also critical to address medical demands of locked-down residents, especially those in critical need.

On Friday morning, Lyu said a 71-year-old senior, surnamed Han, reported severe pain in her abdomen due to acute cholecystitis — inflammation of the gallbladder.

"Because the hospital that she often visits was not qualified for receiving patients from controlled areas, one of our social workers quickly got in touch with another major hospital nearby, and arranged a hospital bed for the elderly," she said, adding that Han was transferred there via a designated vehicle by noon.

"We all understand that during a lockdown, meeting medical demands is the top priority and there must be no delay, "she said.