Volunteer 'gatekeeper' is always at his post

Editor's note: This series tells the stories of selfless individuals, from medical workers to volunteers, who are bravely fighting the virus outbreak with extraordinary dedication.

On Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve on Jan 24, Zhang Shenglin, a 55-year-old veteran, sent a text message to Wuhan's Wansongjie neighborhood committee, where he heads the drug detoxification center, saying he could help on the front line.

The neighborhood committee in Wuhan, Hubei province, was short of hands to deal with the novel coronavirus outbreak, which was first reported in the city and has since spread to elsewhere in China and overseas.

Zhang's request for an assignment was answered: He was sent to Wuhan Union Medical College Hospital's clinic for feverish patients, the most dangerous place.

He now works as a receptionist at the clinic, helping people with medical consultation procedures.

The clinic is always full of people lining up for registration and virus tests.

"When the crowd at the clinic gets bigger, some people become irritable or unwell. And others want to cut in line," Zhang said.

When this happens, he talks to them in an effort to help them relax and behave.

Zhang is considered the "gatekeeper" of the community.

He must report to the neighborhood committee if a case of the coronavirus is confirmed. The neighborhood committee in turn compares notes with hospitals to find a bed.

He also is asked to take notes on all who come to the clinic, whether they are confirmed or suspected cases. His logs offer details about those who are asked to self-quarantine and those who need to be transferred to hospitals designated for patients infected with the coronavirus.

In his first two days at the clinic, he had nothing for lunch. One day, Zhang gave his cup of instant noodles to a patient in line who had passed out due to an empty stomach.

Zhang, who deals with about 40 people each day, often must use throat drops. "I get a sore throat when I talk too much," he said.

Elderly people waiting for tests are encouraged by Zhang to rest at home. He then calls them by phone when it is their turn.

"I've worked for the neighborhood committee for nearly 24 years, and almost everyone in the community knows me," he said. However, he is not always recognizable, since he wears two masks and protective clothing. So he writes the Chinese characters for Wansongjie on his gear so people will know who he is.

But whether the people in line are from Wansongjie or other communities, Zhang always answers their questions patiently.

Because he must deal with so many people, he said he is "scared to be infected with the virus, to be honest".

However, he is too busy to take even a small break. "Since I don't know when people might come for medical consultation or when people's tests results are ready, I have to wait at the entrance of the clinic all the time."

What he cares about most is his one-off protective clothing. Once he puts it on, he wears it all day. "Now we are running low on medical equipment," he said.

If not for the virus outbreak, he would be staying with his parents, who are in their 80s. Fortunately, before helping at the clinic, he had stocked up on food for them.

"I just hope that the epidemic will go as early as possible, and I can go home to take care of my parents," said Zhang, who now lives alone in an office room.

This story has been translated from an article posted on the website of People's Daily.

Cai Hong contributed to this story.