Amid surging COVID-19 cases in Ho Chi Minh City, some young students have decided not to return to their hometowns and stay in the southern metropolis to lend a helping hand in coronavirus control missions.

Carrying 25-liter plastic containers of disinfectant, the young women, who are members of a rapid response team, are quick to do the task at some of the highest-risk areas in the city.

At 8:00 am every day, the team will gather to conduct their assigned duties.

While a team member prepares containers of disinfectant, others arrange and carry sprayers.

After putting on personal protective equipment, they begin spraying disinfectant in different city areas free of charge.

Besides the team’s male members, these young women are willing to take on the hard job.

Staying for the city

As a final-year economic student at Hoa Sen University, Cao Thi Thanh Thao, 23, decided to stay in the city instead of returning to her hometown as many of her friends did. 

Thao wished she could do something to help the city she loves very much, so the girl registered to be a member of the rapid response team in charge of spraying disinfectant in high-risk COVID-19 communities.

Finding there were few volunteers applying to the team at that time, Thao decided to partake without any hesitation as she thought her health was suitable for the task. 

“In fact, I know this task can be a little bit dangerous, but no one would do it if everyone is afraid of infection,” recalled Thao.

“I would like to contribute my humble part to the fight against the pandemic.”

As for Thao, the decision came from her desire to do something helpful to the community and the special love she has for Ho Chi Minh City, where she paid several visits to when she was a little girl.

The more she grows up, the bigger the love becomes.

“I believe that I have been taught many things by living in Ho Chi Minh City. The city has given me a lot of things and opportunities, too. I don’t want to leave it behind with this crisis,” explained Thao. 

“It’s like true love. A friend in need is a friend indeed. You can’t leave your friend when he or she is most vulnerable."

Like Thao, Luu Thi My Lil, 23, another senior student at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), took part in the team when she found it lacking members.

Lil had volunteered to take samples for COVID-19 testing before.

“I enjoy the disinfectant-spraying task as for me, it is like a form of exercise," said Lil. 

"It is both good for my health and useful to the community.

“I am not afraid of being exposed to the danger of the disease. Taking part in the team for a while, I feel very happy. We are welcomed by the people who live in the areas that we come. They give us water and food.

"On top of that, I have many new friends."

Being supported by love

Many female volunteers in the team do not dare to tell their families that they are among frontline workers, who are exposed to a high risk of coronavirus infection.

Mostly, they plan to tell their parents after finishing the mission, so they could save them from worries.

“The only thing that worries me is my parents,” said Thao.

“I joined the team without telling them, and then chose a suitable time for confession." 

However, upon knowing the daughter’s meaningful task, Thao’s parents threw their support behind her plan and advised her to protect herself.

Le Van Cuong, head of the rapid response team, said that at first his team just recruited female volunteers for support and logistics tasks.

Seeing that the girls wanted to join the disinfection mission, Cuong gave them instructions to help them finish it well.

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