Volunteer helps transfer Haizhu's people in need

When Wong Tsz-wai returns to his hotel after a long day volunteering in Guangzhou's COVID-hit Haizhu district, his clothes are often soaked.

The volunteer from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been transferring COVID-19 patients across the district for two weeks, and so has gotten used to the long hours and uncomfortable conditions.

While others in the provincial capital of Guangdong wear T-shirts in the sun, Wong is covered head to toe in plastic protective layers.

Wong, who works at the tax bureau in Guangzhou's Nansha district, recalls earlier in the year when people from Guangdong went to Hong Kong to help with its outbreak, and so sees his volunteer work as repaying the favor.

Beginning his shift at 8 am every day, it's not uncommon for him to finish after 2 am on busier days, he said.

"As long as I can help the people in need, I don't consider my hardships comparable to theirs," said the 26-year-old who transfers COVID-19 patients and close contacts to designated hospitals and quarantine venues in Haizhu.

"I am young and strong enough so I can recover quickly, and this is what I feel I should do to help the city fight the pandemic," Wong said. "Seeing the optimism of our volunteers, the infected people will be encouraged and comforted."

Haizhu is at the epicenter of the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in Guangzhou, and has reported as many as 8,000 cases in a single day in previous weeks.

Guangzhou reported 235 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 7,735 asymptomatic carriers on Tuesday.

During his two-week stint as a volunteer, Wong has ferried more than 3,000 people with COVID-19 to designated hospitals and quarantine facilities.

"Guangdong and Hong Kong are members of the same family, and the most important thing is to help those infected get treatment as soon as possible," he said.

Tang Xuting contributed to this story.