The sweltering heatwave has gripped Da Nang over recent days but police officers staffing at checkpoints at points of entry to the city have been still on duty to enforce COVID-19 regulations on people and vehicles entering the city in an attempt to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 re-introduction from new arrivals. Included are enforcing requirements of compulsory health delaration and body temperature measured.

Traffic Police officers on duty at a checkpoint on the National Highway 14B in Hoa Nhon Commune, Hoa Vang District stop a truck to require its driver to declare his heath status and have his body temperature checked. Photo: LE HUNG

Working in the sweltering over 40⁰C heat

Police officers, medical workers and volunteers staffing at COVID-19 checkpoints across Da Nang work in four shifts and they are working on rotating shift times. Shift 1 is between 6 a.m to 12 a.m, shift 2 from 12 a.m to 6 p.m, shift 3 from 6 p.m to 12p.m, and shift 4 from 0am to 6.00 am the next day. The hottest part of the day during the summer is usually between 12 a.m and 3 p.m.

Police officers, military personnel, and medical workers, along with Youth Union members signed up as volunteers to support COVID control efforts at checkpoints are working very hard and tirelessly to collect health information from drivers of vehicles entering the city and new arrivals under tents made of canvas tarpaulin or thin sheets of corrugated iron which are like baking in a kiln. In particular, medical workers must use head-to-toe personal protective equipment while performing their duties amid sweltering temperatures.

 “Knowing that, wearing head-to-toe personal protective equipmen during an eight-hour shift in the sweltering 40⁰C heat is very uncomfortable, but we must do it to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19”, Nurse Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha from the Hoa Vang District Medical Centre said.

We have observed at the bypass in the south of Hai Van Pass that functional forces staffing at a checkpoint on Ta Quang Buu Street, Lien Chieu District, were bathed in sweat while on duty at 2.30pm.  

With parts of Da Nang sweltering though 40-degree-plus heat over recent days, police officers have worked tirelessly to make sure that checks on all road users and arrivals at points of entry to Da Nang are not missing. The focus is paid on requiring anyone entering the city to fill out a health declaration form and have their body temperature checked. They must also make any COVID-19 like symptoms known to health officials.

Joining the city's efforts against COVID-19

Observations from our reporters at a checkpoint on the National Highway 1A in Hoa Phuoc Commune, Hoa Vang District, at noon on Tuesday (June 22) showed that most drivers of vehicles entering the city through this checkpoint voluntarily stopped to complete the health control form. However, some of drivers, assistants and passengers got annoyed or irritated with their waiting for turn of filling out the form as prescribed by the city’s COVID-19 regulations under extreme or prolonged heat.

In reality, some drivers of vehicles did not stop and ran through the COVID-19 checkpoints.

Police officers at the Hoa Nhon point of entry on the afternoon of June 19 imposed a VND 4 million fine and deprivation of driving license up to 3 months on a 37 year-old driver from Nga Son District, Thanh Hoa Province for non-compliance with the instructions from road traffic controllers.

The city’s battle against COVID-19 is still facing many difficulties and challenges. Therefore, Da Nang calls on every arrival to stick to the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health, and to be willing to fill out a health declaration form with accurate and true information before entering the city in order to help it bring the pandemic under control.

Reporting by LE HUNG – translating by H.L