A working day of frontline forces at COVID-19 checkpoints

On-duty officials take turns to have a quick dinner at 10 p.m. at a checkpoint on Phap Van-Cau Gie highway. Instant noodles with boiled eggs prove to be popular dishes at night.

Each individual spends between 15 and 20 minutes finishing the dish. Sometime they snack on sweets between meals to avoid feeling hungry throughout the night.

Major Nguyen Tuan Cuong, head of the night shift, says staff members always encourage each other to complete their tasks in order to halt the spread of the virus.

Packages of cakes and bottles of drinking water are provided to those on duty who often endure sleepless nights due to the COVID-19 fight.

A large number of vehicles passing through the gateways require relevant forces stationed at checkpoints to work hard, even at night.

Many soldiers have been stationed at the gateways since July 14 and have had no time to return home so far.

During the initial days of social distancing measures in place, these on-duty officials have sometimes missed a dish due to the huge number of vehicles travelling through the gateways.

A policeman reminds locals of the need to follow COVID-19 control measures at a checkpoint in Ba Vi district.

On-duty officials take turns throughout the entire day to regulate the flow of vehicles going in and out the capital.

Some locals residing close to checkpoints share cups of tea or fruit juice with the officials sharing the hardship they experience every day.