Sofia Alvarez offers help at a vaccination site designated for foreign nationals and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots Sunday. Lin Jianping
Shenzhen has once again tightened its pandemic prevention and control measures after a handful of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were reported in Yantian and Longgang districts over the past few days.
Some expats are voluntarily joining local Chinese residents in serving at vaccination sites and to help facilitate the administering process.
Sofia Alvarez, a senior student at Shenzhen University from Mexico, is offering help at the Technology Building in Nanshan District, a vaccination site designated for foreign nationals and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots.
Fluent in Chinese, Alvarez is responsible for guiding people, helping them get registered and answering related questions.
The 22-year-old said she tries to make time in her busy class schedule to help as much as she can.
In her daily life, Alvarez follows strict health protocols to protect herself and others. “No matter how hard it is, I wear masks and wash hands frequently. I also got my first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, which is necessary to protect myself and others,” she told Shenzhen Daily.
Alvarez applauds the meticulousness of the city’s efforts to fight the virus. “One time I just finished my workout at the gym and got a little bit hot. The Metro staff stopped me and double-checked my temperature, only to make sure that I was hot from the exercise, not that I was sick,” she recalled.
Another expat, named Paul, is also offering a helping hand at a vaccination site in Bao’an District. “I got my jabs here last month and the volunteers were so nice to me. As a resident in Bao’an, I’d like to offer help as much as needed to fight the virus,” Paul said.
According to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, Bao’an has accumulatively organized nearly 10,000 activities to assist in vaccination, nucleic acid testing, joint prevention and control in communities, involving more than 8,000 volunteers and serving more than 600,000 citizens.
A total of 25 volunteers were awarded for their contributions to voluntary work, including the effort in combating COVID-19, at two ceremonies in Zhaoshang and Shekou subdistricts in Nanshan on Dec. 5, 2020, the 35th International Volunteer Day.