While most Hanoians have been staying home in compliance with the municipal government’s social distancing policy enacted to curb coronavirus spread, environmental workers are braving long hours outdoors to keep the city clean during the pandemic.

Although not directly participating in the frontline force in the fight against the Covid-19, environmental workers are silent warriors who are always present in concentrated quarantined areas, hospitals, lock-down residential areas, among others.

The pressure is on their shoulders, but many environmental workers have never felt discouraged by what they have done for the community.

Nguyen Thi Dao, a 43-year-old environmental worker in Nam Tu Liem District of Hanoi, said the social distancing rules and stay-at-home orders decreed by the municipal authorities are aimed at ensuring safety for everyone and she has to comply with, especially when working outdoors.

“After all, the virus is not preventing the garbage from piling up. I wear two face masks, two pairs of gloves, and disinfect my hands regularly,” she told The Hanoi Times, explaining that before the pandemic, she has to wear just one pair of disposable gloves inside another pair of rubber gloves per shift.

Nguyen Thi Dao collects garbage on Ho Tung Mau Street in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. Photo: Quang The

Since the pandemic outbreak, she has to change even three pairs of rubber gloves in a single night shift. “Of course, I’m worried about working night shifts while my child is at home, especially during the pandemic, but that’s my job,” she said.

Ta Van Duan, a sanitary worker of the Environmental Materials and Equipment Joint Stock Company 13 has a different experience.

“Currently, the workload of the garbage collectors is 2-3 times higher than before. We have to work overtime, even work until night to ensure that all the waste in the quarantined areas is collected. Even though I wear full protective clothing, I am still very afraid, whether I’m infected or not, I can't know for sure," Duan said.

According to Pham Thi Thanh Huong, a worker of environment group 6 of Urenco Hanoi, the threat of Covid-19 disease is always present.

“The job of environment sanitation exposes us to many risks of disease transmission. During this Covid-19 pandemic, this risk is even greater. It's not true to say that I’m carefree, but if I don't go to work, the waste will accumulate, it would be even more dangerous," Huong told The Hanoi Times.

“If everyone chooses easy jobs, who will do the hard ones? If we’re all scared of the disease and stay home, who will pick up the trash? I would feel guilty if I stayed home and let my colleagues do the job for me,” she stressed.

Huong, who has been collecting trash for 15 years, has accepted the health risks of her profession, even those added by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nguyen Thanh Van, a team leader of Group No.8 of Urenco Hanoi said: “We sometimes feel frustrated and scared, but we encourage each other to go on with the job. As a team leader, I am also responsible for urging people in the group to carry out the task for good of all and respond to the community and society.”

This photo was taken before Hanoi released stricter social distancing order on July 24. Garbage collection near Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung

"The company's leaders have asked all workers to strictly obey measures to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic and keep themselves safe," Van added.

"We also hope people are more aware of dumping garbage on time and in the right place. The local authorities need to take strong measures to handle offenders to minimize risks during the pandemic," Van said.

According to Van, her company has equipped her and her fellow workers with face masks, gloves, and disinfectants, while requesting that workers disinfect their hands right after they finish one trolley and before they begin filling another.

Besides, vaccination against Covid-19 has also been prioritized by all environmental workers in many localities and units. Up to now, the workers are all safe.

Dr. Bui Thi An, vice president of the Hanoi Union of Science and Technology Associations, said that the biggest difficulty at this time is the danger from garbage, especially facemasks, discharged by people in residential areas. People are not conscious of sorting out garbage, though there currently remain numerous infections in the community.

"Therefore, to ensure the safety of environmental workers, specialized agencies need to study special and specific solutions to ensure that the waste source is treated safely in order to minimize the spread of disease transmission," An told The Hanoi Times.

On July 24, Hanoi began the implementation of social distancing across the city that is set to last until August 23, following a directive given by the Prime Minister. Stores and entertainment establishments have been closed while citizens have been asked to stay home except for absolutely necessary reasons such as trips for food, medicine, and emergency care.

Since late April, Hanoi has recorded 2,258 positive cases of coronavirus, among them, 1,111 patients were detected in the community.