Editor's note: In the battle with the COVID-19 epidemic, more and more fighters are coming to its front lines, including students and former students of the Open University of China (OUC). Like other fighters, no matter how ordinary, they are contributing what they can. Let's take a close look at some of their stories.

“These days, try to stay put; wash your hands frequently; ventilate your home; and keep your distance from others as much as possible.”

Ren Daguo, through a loudspeaker, has been disseminating this message throughout his community since the outbreak of the epidemic, and leading cadres door-to-door every day to inform and investigate, reminding everyone to do a good job protecting themselves, and collecting information about returnees from other communities.
Proactive in Joining the Fight

At 43, is a junior-college Tea major (autumn 2017) at Yinjiang Radio and TV University, and a participant in the "Long March Belt" poverty-alleviation educational project of the Open University of China (OUC) in Guizhou. He is also a member of the neighborhood-militia emergency-response team, and director of the Chengnan community. When news of the outbreak broke, even though he had already returned home for the Chinese Lunar New Year, Ren Daguo left his family to rush to the front lines and help defend the community. He led cadres there in infection control, and fulfilled his soldier's commitment to return to the army in time of need.

Ren Daguo (2nd from left) on check-point duty.

A Commando in the War on the Epidemic

Chengnan is a major section of Erling, with over 30,000 residents in 27 buildings. Its high population density, large number of returnees, and many crowded public spaces have made infection difficult to control there. But Ren Daguo, as the community-committee director, has embraced the challenge, organising cadres, grid operators and Party members in the community to check door-to-door on returnees and register their information, while ensuring that no household was left unaccounted-for. To disseminate information, he not only used his loudspeaker, but also created posters and wrote letters.

Ren Daguo (2nd from left) making a round to communicate with residents.

Staying True to his Values

Ren Daguo, as a Party member for 13 years, has striven to remain true to his ideals and sense of duty, giving priority to the health and safety of the masses and the leadership of the Party.

“Hi. Is Mr. Liu a permanent resident of Yinjiang? Please check so that we can decide whether to release him or not." Yang Xiuzhen, deputy secretary of the neighborhood Party Working Committee and secretary of the Political and Legal Committee, said these words in a call to Ren Daguo after receiving information from traffic-management personnel.

Ren Daguo has taken many such calls, and is always efficient in finding the required information, helping to protect the community from intrusion by non-residents.

At the same time he has personally undertaken to oversee the quarantine of five community returnees, using WeChat to stay in contact with them, and visiting their homes every day to ensure their safety and compliance.

By OUC News Network