Walking, knocking – and more knocking.
Community worker Li Feng and her colleague's knuckles were red and swollen, having knocked on each door in two 27-story residential buildings since Monday.
Checking and recording 1,000 residents' health status within her jurisdiction – or what she calls – the grid, has become Li's duty in the latest round of citywide screening to uncover coronavirus cases. Taining community in old-town Wuhan's Jiang'an District is divided into six grids, each with a designated worker like Li.
Wuhan authorities have demanded that all confirmed and suspected patients are transferred to hospitals by Thursday for medical treatment.
With 5,000 people to be screened, the workload has been huge for the short-handed, under-equipped Taixin community service office. However, the work must be done to curb the outbreak and save more lives in time.
"How many people live here?"
"Are your temperatures normal?" "Need us to take them for you?"
"Anyone with chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension?"
Li Feng, Taixin community worker in charge of checking and recording the community residents' health status, replies to texts sent onto her phone, in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Kang Kai/CGTN
Li must have repeated the questions at least 400 times since Monday. It has become a daily routine for Wuhan's community workers.
"My colleagues and I have worked every day since February 2. No days off, no weekends," Li said.
Her husband has been taking care of their two-year-old son at home. At one point, the boy thought his mom was a sidekick of his favorite cartoon heroes.
"My son thought I worked for the PAW Patrol. Then his dad told him the situation was quite serious. He started worrying about me, even had nightmares, crying, 'mom's in the hospital.' He thought I got sick."
There was a long silence.
"But the work must continue," she added.
There are hundreds of community workers like Li in Wuhan. They are mothers, wives, sons and husbands. For their neighbors, they are someone to count on.
Li Feng and her partner Leng Tao went to visit 78-year-old Ms. Yu who lives alone in an old building. The retiree's grandson called community service, hoping they could check on her if she had any trouble, or needed any help.
78 year-old Wuhan resident Ms. Yu tells community workers everything is fine and thanks them for their attention. Kang Kai/CGTN
Her family was either busy at work or heeding calls to stay indoors. Li and her colleague packed some vegetables an hour before lunch; this time they brought carrots for Yu's beef stew.
Many elderly people live in this old neighborhood. Some suffer from chronic diseases which makes them more vulnerable to the deadly virus. Aside from daily checks, the staff and community service volunteers also carry food and medicine to those in need.
"I am very thankful for their services. It's so heartwarming," said Yu, her voice choked and clearly fighting back tears. "I'm very touched by the authorities' efforts and care for me. I live alone but I do feel in good hands."
After a long morning of work, it's time for a lunch break. Li took her lunch box and heated rice with beef and vegetables in a microwave oven. As she took a bite to eat, her phone rang. Li told us, this happens, and community workers must always stand ready to do everything to meet the neighbors' needs.
Her shift ends at 5:30 p.m. Li carpools with her colleagues for the long ride home. When we asked if we could visit her family, Li hesitated and declined our request. But this dedicated public servant says she'd welcome us anytime if it weren't for the outbreak.