From the end of 2021 to the start of 2022, sporadic outbreaks of Covid-19 occurred in several regions of China, including Hangzhou, Xi’an, Henan province, and Tianjin. Members of the OUC at branches of the Zhejiang, Xi’an, Henan and Tianjin Open Universities (OUs) all bravely devoted themselves to helping fight the local outbreaks.

Zhejiang OU: Students in its School of Education helped fight the disease

Under the leadership of student Party members in the Online Party Organisation of the School of Education, 63 students helped combat the outbreak, showing their sense of responsibility in terms of protecting life and the well-being of the community.

Student Wang Xiaorui was one of the first to volunteer, purchasing medicine and providing delivery to quarantined residents.

Li Jinshi was responsible for disinfecting his assigned community, spraying disinfectant carefully on every surface twice a day.

Zhou Liqiang became an Administration undergraduate for auxiliary police in Autumn 2020. In early 2021, he responded to the call to fight an outbreak, and his outstanding performance gained him a first-class medal of honour for public-security work in Zhejiang province; he was also named an “OUC advanced individual for epidemic prevention and control”. This time, he volunteered again to help unseal quarantined areas, and transfer personnel.

Xu Bujin, who entered the same programme at the same time, conducted police work in quarantine areas: checking the camera, packages, and fire-fighting equipment; dealing with emergencies; and helping calm down people fed up with quarantine. He says, “It's a tough job, but my efforts feel worthwhile.”

Their classmate Tao Lin patrolled in the community, monitoring mask compliance and offering patient explanations to weary residents.

Guo Qiang, a junior-college Administration student (spring 2021) was in charge of tracing the origin of the outbreak. He worked meticulously, paid great attention to detail, and ensured that his results were complete and accurate. His work was essential to timely discovery, isolation, diagnosis and treatment.

His classmate Yang Yaying worked in a community hospital, taking fifty swab samples every day from the close contacts of infected persons.

Battling the epidemic, the students of Zhejiang OU bravely put themselves at risk in order to fulfill their social responsibility 

Xi’an OU

Providing donations to help fight the outbreak

At the end of December 2021, Covid-19 struck the Beilin district of Xi’an city. Zhao Liling, president of Xi’an OU, sent aid to Nanyuanmen Street in the form of ethyl alcohol, masks, food and other necessities. In addition, Ms. Zhao personally donated 1000 yuan. She said, “We are all responsible for helping fight Covid-19, and as an NPC member for the district, I bear additional responsibility. “

Teachers and students volunteering

The unexpected outbreak forced Ms. Jiang Cong to isolate in her community. She volunteered as soon as she heard the news, and was responsible for sorting and delivery of daily necessities and helping the medical workers organise PCR tests. Jiang Cong said that, though ordinary, her volunteer work felt more significant than anything she had undertaken in the past.

Wang Bin and Duan Linchao, teachers like Jiang Cong at Xi’an OU, also volunteered, and helped the medical workers with PCR testing.

Students at Xi’an OU, including Zhang Zeqianya, Song Ya and Hui Chao, joined the teachers in their heroic efforts.

Henan OU: Volunteers help speed up PCR testing

In early January 2021, Henan OU faculty set up a volunteer team to help medical workers with PCR testing. 60 volunteers daily, and a total of 240, devoted themselves to this task, allowing over 1,300 PCR tests to be administered within four hours by only four medical workers at two testing spots.

Zhengzhou is both heroic and warm, and the Henan OU volunteers were like a beam of light, spreading warmth in this cold winter.

Tianjin OU: 'Likes' for volunteers

In early January 2022, 40 members of the faculty of Tianjin OU helped administer PCR testing. Some went door to door all night long, while others worked outdoors to maintain orderly testing in the freezing cold.

With this they demonstrated their sense of social responsibility.