In early 2021, being heavily affected by the third wave of COVID-19 caused by the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the UK with the complicated, dangerous developments and wide, rapid spread, Hai Duong became one of the country's major infectious outbreaks. Amid the pandemic, with the spirit of "fighting the pandemic like fighting the enemy," the provincial armed forces of Hai Duong had promoted their pivotal and vanguard role together with the entire masses in pandemic prevention and control, especially in hot spots and complicated localities, making an important contribution to the successful control and suppression of the COVID-19 in the province, bolstering the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" on the new front, being highly appreciated by local party committees, authorities and people.

To this end, the Provincial Military Command (PMC) had given sound advice to the Provincial Party Committee and  People's Committee on measures to prevent and control the pandemic. Thoroughly grasping guiding and directing documents by the Government, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Health, the Military Region 3’s Command, and competent offices on COVID-19 prevention and control, right after the outbreak, the Provincial Military Party Committee (PMPC) and the PMC actively collaborated with other departments, agencies and branches in advising the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee to quickly activate the entire pandemic prevention and control system with the “four on-the-spot” motto, consolidate the Steering Board for COVID-19 prevention and control at all levels, assign specific tasks to each member in each area, and  uphold the responsibility of heads of party committees and authorities for pandemic prevention and control results in their localities. Following the direction of "being calm, proactive, drastic, fast tracking, localising, and suppressing the pandemic," the armed forces together with others advised the province to blockade and localise cases of infection, urgently trace and classify F1s, F2s, F3s for testing, quarantine and monitor, while cooperating with the Provincial Public Security in setting up COVID-19 checkpoints in the area. The PMPC Standing Board assigned its members to directly monitor and direct pandemic prevention and control in each area. Meanwhile, the PMC established a quick response force willing to perform tasks in hot spots and complicated areas. Notably, when 100% officials in Nam Tan commune (Nam Sach district) were kept in quarantine, at the request of the District Party Committee of Nam Sach, the PMPC appointed the Commander of the District Military Command as the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee.

Predicting that the pandemic would rapidly spread on a large scale in a short time, the PMC both actively made good preparations and asked the Military Region 3’s Command and Steering Board for COVID-19 Prevention and Control for means of transport, facilities and forces of military units stationed in the province to prepare quarantine areas, enhance medical capacity, deploy troops to checkpoints and quarantine areas, and spray disinfectants. Importance was attached to promoting the core role of military cadres, veterans, and members of the militia and self-defence force in  anti-COVID-19 groups within villages, hamlets and residences in propagating, monitoring and supervising the pandemic prevention and control, thus bringing about practical effects and raising the awareness of pandemic prevention and control among party committees, authorities, local people and workers in industrial zones who were being quarantined and blockaded.

Commander of the PMC inspecting COVID-19 prevention and control at the district of Binh Giang

In the spirit of quickly cutting off sources of infection and completely suppressing the pandemic, the PMC actively developed plans and strictly maintained regulations in quarantine areas. Thousands of cadres and soldiers of the provincial armed forces worked around the clock to do clean-up, prepare accommodation, facilities and equipment for the selected quarantine areas, such as schools, health centres, and headquarters of Commune People's Committees to well implement "social distancing among communes and districts." In fact, quarantine areas were managed and controlled in different ways within localities, leading to limited effectiveness, while the ones with a large number of people faced a high risk of cross-infection. To address this problem, the PMC recommended the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Steering Board for COVID-19 Prevention and Control to allow the armed forces to take over all quarantine areas of over 100 people. That was an uphill battle which  created high pressure on psychology, strength, time. However, with its political resolve, the PMC quickly deployed an appropriate number of troops and mobilised the militia and self-defence force to join duty at the checkpoints along with the police force, while the standing force was on duty in quarantine areas. At the same time, it directed agencies and units to educate all troops on the causes, harms and types of infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus so that they would avoid panic, subjectivity, and negligence, actively participate in pandemic prevention and control, and consider this as a "combat" mission of the armed forces in peacetime, hence building up their determination, political responsibility, and willingness to conduct missions in the epicenter.

In order to well maintain and manage the quarantine areas, the PMPC and the  PMC introduced and assigned specific tasks to each team in charge,  strictly complied with regulations on epidemic prevention, avoided cross-infection, and ensured the safety of officers and soldiers on duty. Besides, within the quarantine areas, the PMC split rooms into separate ones and used ropes to clearly define routes, areas of eating and resting as well as places to store domestic waste so as to categorise quarantined people, thereby limiting infection. It regularly encouraged and reminded citizens in the quarantine areas to strictly abide by regulations, while reporting the pandemic situation on bulletin board, internal radio, and loudspeakers. Furthermore, it set up a hotline, publicised the phone number of the officer in charge and the unit commander so that people could express and exchange their thoughts and wishes. It also well managed people’s thoughts and promptly solved problems to create people’s trust in the Military. As a result, within the quarantine areas managed by the provincial armed forces, military staff and citizens  had all strictly conformed to the regulations, there were no case of cross-infection, and the absolute safety was ensured.

While preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, the PMC focused on performing local defence and military tasks. Emphasis was placed on conscripting citizens, training and equipping commanders and military medical units with knowledge and skills of epidemic prevention and control, and directing agencies and units to develop plans for pandemic prevention and control at each specific level. At the same time, the PMC well maintained the regulations on eating, living, work, and hygiene in pandemic scenario. It also strictly managed the number of troops and vehicles entering and leaving the barracks, while restricting nonessential exits. Upon return, staff members had to disinfect themselves before contacting others. To minimise the possibility of infection in offices and units, cadres and soldiers who had completed their tasks at the quarantine areas and checkpoints had to be quarantined for 14 days and test negative for SARS-CoV-2 twice. In pandemic-hit localities, the work of recruitment was even more difficult because some citizens refused to take orders, citing the reason that Hai Duong was then affected by the pandemic. Those who received orders had to be carefully managed to avoid infection. Therefore, the PMC directed localities to test all young people for COVID-19 before they joined the Military, ensuring that they were negative twice. Simultaneously, working groups were sent to units at grassroots level to educate and encourage families and citizens who would join the Military to comply with pandemic preventive regulations. As a result, despite holding its new recruit handover ceremony later than prescribed, Hai Duong province still ensured the quality of call-up and fulfilled the assigned targets.

In the spirit of solidarity and mutual love, the PMC had launched the movement entitled “the provincial armed forces join hands to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic” to support the pandemic-affected localities and people. After 4 campaigns, more than 1,500 working days had been spent on cleaning up and spraying disinfectants in 155 schools. Cadres and soldiers donated over 7.5 tons of rice, 40,000 medical and cloth masks, over 2,000 antibacterial soap bars and other necessities, etc., which were worth VND 520 million. The specific actions and deeds of the provincial armed forces had left a good impression in people’s hearts and minds.

At present, the pandemic is still spreading on a large scale all over the country. Therefore, several lessons on COVID-19 prevention and control has been drawn by the PMC of Hai Duong for other units to further study and apply.

Firstly, thoroughly grasp superior directives and resolutions, build up cadres and soldiers’ political will and determination in pandemic prevention and control, and consider the fight against COVID-19 as a political task and a combat mission in peacetime.

Secondly, be proactive and drastic in the staff work, be creative, specific and rigorous in pandemic prevention and control, make correct forecasts, develop plans and take appropriate responsive measures when the pandemic occurs.

Thirdly, strictly maintain the order and regulations, closely manage the strength, personnel, and procedure of pandemic prevention and control, disseminate knowledge of preventive measures, and avoid being subjective or negligent in pandemic prevention and control.

Fourthly, regularly give encouragement to cadres and soldiers, ensure their material and mental life, promptly reward collectives and individuals with achievements on the frontline against the pandemic.

Sr. Col. NGUYEN HUY THANG, Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Board

Commander of the PMC