Till date, the Da Nang Border Guard High Command has sent a combined total of about 100 officers and men to designated quarantine facilities. Regardless of the hardship and the potential risks of catching the deadly virus, the assigned officers and men have always strived to produce their best possible work performance.

Border guards delivering food to the quarantined people

The halls of residence at the Da Nang University of Education and the Viet Nam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology, and a dormitory in the western part of the city are now used as coronavirus isolation sites.

At these strictly-restricted places, the border guards are on duty, almost around the clock.  The image of the soldiers in green uniform has become familiar to the sequestered people here.  These ‘coronavirus heroes’ look like the quarantined’ close relatives who give them comfort and peace of mind amid the coronavirus crisis.

Every day, the bolder guards have to wake up so early in the morning, usually at 3:00a.m to do personal hygiene in a prompt fashion, put on their stuffy protective suits, and then embark on their tasks in quarantine sites.

On their daily work routine, these soldiers do all kinds of tasks such as delivering portions of meals and drinks to the quarantined, helping the medical staff here conduct body temperature measurements on the sequestered, collecting garbage for appropriate disposal, receiving supplies from the quarantined people’s relatives, conducting the spray of disinfectant, and do many other tasks.

These kind-hearted, devoted men have decided to temporarily put aside their messy personal work and leave behind their beloved ones to embark on the prolonged work attachments to the quarantine sites. 

They do such very tough tasks not merely for their work commitment, but more importantly, their response to the prompting call of their hearts to do something very highly significant for the community. 

An isolated man said, during his 14-day isolation period here, he received active and kind support from these border guards at any time, even in odd hours.

“In this very stressful time, kind assistance and encouragement I receive from the soldiers indeed made me feel much more secure.  I really feel at home now”, said another quarantined person.

Besides their assigned tasks, these military personnel, themselves,  enthusiastically act as ‘psychologists’ as they regularly grasp the quarantined’ thoughts and aspirations, extended words of great encouragement to them, and encourage them to strictly comply with the mandated regulations prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

From 27 July to 9 August 9, agencies under the Da Nang Border Guard High Command appealed for donors nationwide to provide necessary essentials and medical equipment to the city’s virus battle. 

In detail, 34,600 face masks, 500 coronavirus protective suits, 460 face shields, 7 infrared thermometers, an automatic hand sterilizer dispenser, and 1 tonne of rice, plus 27 million VND in cash were donated to frontline health workers and first responders plus those in financially difficult circumstances.

By B. VINH, M. CHAU – Translated by A.T