Son Tra District’s Nai Hien Dong Ward is now subject to strict local lockdown measures amid a growing number of new COVID-19 locally-acquired infections here. Accordingly, functional forces have been deployed to checkpoints to enforce the stay-at-home order applied to all residents across the ward. In order to help residents feel secure and safe during local lockdown period, the ward’s authorities have implemented highly-practical plans to ensure the supply of essential food to each family located in sequestered areas.

Vehicles transporting foodstuff ordered by the sequestered families arrived on time at the checkpoint at the Tran Hung Dao - Nguyen The Loc intersection in Nai Hien Dong Ward. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Nai Hien Dong Ward currently has 8,230 households with a combined total of more than 32,000 people, with many neighborhoods put under lockdown due to the detection of COVID-19 cases.

Since August 2, as per instructions of the ward’s administration, community-based COVID-19 taskforces have been in charging of doing shopping for families in the sealed-off residential areas.

These taskforces consist of enthusiastic volunteers who are police officers, teachers, medical workers and other public servants.

Each taskforce is in charge of making food supplies to 50 households in the ward.

Every 3 days, members of the taskforces collect paper-based orders from families in cordoned-off residential areas between 6:00am and noon, and then deliver their ordered food to them.

Mr. Ho Tan Phuoc, Vice Chairman of the Nai Hien Dong Ward People's Committee, this initiate aims to limit people from going out and gathering in large numbers at shopping venues,  thereby minimising the risk of COVID-19 community spread. 

Employees on board the vehicles transfer food parcel through the checkpoint fence, and they are not allowed to make entry. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Representatives of community-based COVID-19 taskforces receive ordered food parcels for delivery to families in blockaded areas. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

The volunteers strive to fulfill their missions in doing shopping for families under lockdown Photo: PHAN CHUNG

The COVID-19 taskforce at residential group No. 57, Nai Hien Dong Ward, comprises enthusiastic volunteers who are police officers, teachers, medical workers and other public servants. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

The volunteers carefully re-check lists of food items before giving them to families. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Residents are eager to receive foodstuff from the volunteers. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG - Translating by A.T