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China orders Covid-19 community helpers to follow local leadership
- New guidelines put pandemic volunteer services under the ‘unified management’ of party committees and government
- Volunteers play a crucial role in China’s battle against the coronavirus by distributing supplies and food and helping patients arrange treatment
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Community volunteer services for Covid-19 prevention and control must follow the orders of local Communist Party committees and governments, according to China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs.
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On Tuesday, the ministry issued guidelines laying down specific instructions for the management of Covid volunteers. They emphasise that volunteer services for Covid-19 prevention and control must be under the “unified management” of local leadership.
“We must adhere to unified leadership and coordination to achieve the best results,” the guidelines state.
According to the guidelines, community volunteer services should be subject to the unified command of local party committees and governments.
The guidelines also state that volunteer service organisations and volunteers involved in pandemic prevention should be “under the unified coordination and use of the community”.
Since the initial outbreak in 2020, volunteers have played a crucial role in China’s battle against Covid-19.
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Thousands of people engaged in volunteer work in Wuhan during the early days of the pandemic. Ordinary people such as taxi drivers and restaurant owners helped transport doctors and nurses, distribute medical supplies and deliver food and daily necessities despite a lack of protection against the virus and high risk of infection.
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