Goodwill triggers will to defeat virus

Between Wednesday and Thursday, Beijing saw 39 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections, taking the total number of existing cases to 544. And the transmission chains have not been fully cut off yet.

The situation has prompted the authorities in Beijing to take some strict measures. On Thursday, Beijing closed down over 60 subway stations, while calling for all residents in Chaoyang district and nearby areas to work from home.

Before that, Beijing had already suspended theater performances, indoor entertainment and workouts, as well as other public places where mass gatherings are possible.

These strict measures will inevitably inconvenience daily life for ordinary people. But they are aimed at bringing the pandemic under control in the quickest manner possible. It is a small price to be paid to achieve greater benefits. Actually, having fought the virus for so long, Beijing residents have already accumulated enough experience in coping with the situation, and are cooperative in implementing the measures.

The Beijing municipal government took residents’ needs into consideration while drafting the measures. For example, in certain regions where public transport is temporarily restricted, the local transport department has arranged emergency taxi services. As all restaurants are required to close and provide delivery services only, some fast delivery apps have arranged for more hands to deliver food.

Another good example is the health kit, a smart-phone-based program that shows users’ travel histories. Since Wednesday, the health kit has combined travel history with nucleic acid test history, as more public spaces require people to show their histories on entry. All of this has reduced the inconvenience caused by the prevention and control measures.

It is this goodwill that grants Beijing and its nearly 22 million residents the confidence the virus will be defeated at the earliest.