The most memorable 'stranger'

The Jingmao International Residence is temporarily closed, and the delivery men call the property owners to pick up their meals, April 26. [Photo by Cao Boyuan/For China Daily]

Editor's note: A reporter witnessed the warm moments in a controlled zone amid Beijing's latest epidemic outbreak.

At 12 am on May 7, the gate of Jingmao International Residence in Tongzhou district, Beijing, which was closed for 10 days, slowly opened in the middle of the night. Volunteers wearing protective clothing dismantled various isolation facilities.

From the windows of every household, warm applause and cheers to express gratitude toward the "big whites", the ubiquitous health monitors clothed in white personal protective gear, were hovering in the night air.

I am a reporter and I live in this community. Since the closure was announced on the afternoon of April 26, I have used my camera to record everything that happened here. During this period, people felt panic, tension and anxiety. However, with the busy figures of the "big whites", and with the unity, mutual assistance and friendship of all residents, the difficulties were overcome and the moment of resuming life was ushered in.

On the afternoon of April 26, as one of the residents of the community was infected with COVID-19, the government carried out temporary closures and control of the community in accordance with the requirements of epidemic prevention. The gates entering and leaving the community are strictly guarded by "big whites".
"I'm from the neighboring community. I brought my child here to play. I was locked in the community. The child was playing in the water just now, and her clothes were wet. What should I do?" In the security room of the community, the concerned mother asked the question with her 4-year-old daughter standing by her side. She spoke to the security guard anxiously, hoping to go home. However, the epidemic prevention policy does not allow it.

Upon learning the news, a man quickly returned home, brought a set of his daughter's clothes, handed it to her through the window, and comforted the mother and daughter, and other residents soon brought snacks and toys to the child. In the small security room, the anxiety was melted by their heartfelt warmth. That night, the staff found a safe place in the community for the mother and daughter.
"Hello, do we need volunteers? How do I sign up?" Starting from the daytime on April 27, a large number of volunteers are needed for logistics and express delivery in the community, nucleic acid testing, and transportation of epidemic prevention materials. Many young people took the initiative to sign up, and soon the first batch of volunteer service positions were full.

Zhang Zhujun was fortunate to be among the first batch of volunteers. Her husband, Cong Chaozi, is a firefighter. He could not go home and had to work on duty in the city's fire station.

While taking care of the elderly and children at home, Zhang was responsible for the entry of resident ID card information during daily nucleic acid testing in the community. In order not to distract her husband, she had a video call with her husband every day after work to report the situation at home. The child showed the food at home to the father, telling him that there was enough food at home. She assured her father by presenting her mother's cooking skills.
more "big whites" joining in, the order of life in the community, which was tense at the beginning, soon returned in order.

Under the guidance of the community, the "big whites" have established more than 10 WeChat groups such as nucleic acid groups, nucleic acid code scanning groups, and distribution and maintenance volunteer groups for all members of the community to ensure the timely transmission and communication of various information, and all tasks were allocated and organized appropriately.

The "distributor" wearing "big white" clothes turned out to be a "property security guard". The property administration set up a distribution team composed of six people, who were divided into morning and evening shifts. They put on protective equipment as required to enter the controlled area to undertake the task of delivering express delivery for the residents of the sealed building, and delivered goods immediately to ensure the normal life of the residents.

The testing staff keep working in the rain. [Photo by Cao Boyuan/For China Daily]

Thanks to the efforts of the "big whites", life is back to normal. People walking dogs and exercising are seen in the garden in the early morning. Children in the playground are playing with laughter, and those who celebrate their birthdays have gotten the cakes they ordered in time.

The 10-day closed life is over. The "big whites" are the busiest. Although we can't see their faces, they are the cutest and most memorable "strangers".