2020-03-02 [“Language” Accompanying You:] Defending Our Nation, Awakening Spring from Silence: Firsthand Accounts of Fighting COVID-19 from Students in Hubei, School of Languages and Communication Studies. 

When a sudden epidemic struck, 1.4 billion Chinese people united as one and threw themselves into this battle without smoke of gunpowder. In Enshi, a small mountain city isolated from the outside world in Hubei Province, how did the local people guard their beloved hometown? Let us hear Wu Kunchun, an undergraduate from the School of Languages and Communication Studies, share the story of her hometown’s fight against the epidemic. Defending Our Nation, Awakening Spring from Silence. In 2020, a sudden outbreak of a novel epidemic hit Wuhan and quickly spread to other regions including Hubei Province. Fourteen hundred million Chinese people united as one and threw themselves into this battle without smoke of gunpowder. Even in Enshi, a small mountain city isolated from the outside world, the tranquility of its landscapes was disrupted. Yet we were determined to protect our beloved hometown, to stand guard over Hubei, and to safeguard every fellow compatriot fighting against the virus. To win this battle against the epidemic, while timely medical treatment by frontline healthcare workers racing against the virus is undoubtedly critical, it is equally indispensable to carry out epidemic prevention and control among uninfected populations. As the situation evolved, the role of personnel on duty grew increasingly pivotal. Party members and officials actively responded to the call of Party committees, going down to the grassroots and engaging in frontline epidemic prevention work in communities. Parents actively participated in the efforts, setting an example by taking the lead and delving into every street and alley. They committed to leaving no household unattended and no corner overlooked in the fight against the epidemic. Working from dawn to dusk, they stood guard at duty posts with dedication and without complaint, fully engaging in epidemic prevention and control tasks. Their presence was felt in community screenings, identification of non-local residents, dispersal of gatherings, and disinfection of public spaces. I was also honored to join them in this effort, determined to carry this battle through to the end, and to document the stories of these most admirable individuals. Are we not clad in the same robes, sharing our armor as comrades? In this battle without smoke of gunpowder, Party members and officials served as the “gatekeepers” of the first line of defense in epidemic prevention and control. They sacrificed rest and family reunions, disregarding personal compensation and safety, leaving their homes to stand guard in communities. They secured every neighborhood and street entrance, steadfastly protecting the lives and health of residents. What is isolated is the virus, but what is united is the people’s hearts. At the same time, the meticulous care and support from beyond our region deeply moved us, often bringing us to tears. Overseas Chinese communities, sharing our feelings, urgently transported essential medical supplies such as masks to Enshi from abroad, donating both funds and materials to fight the epidemic. Tianjin provided counterpart support to Enshi, dispatching “the most beautiful adversity-defying medical staff” who gathered in Enshi and worked day and night on the front lines of treatment. Guizhou Province sent us fresh local vegetables, distributing them on a district-by-district basis... The prevention and control measures implemented in my hometown were well-implemented and timely, yielding remarkable results. I rarely saw people wandering aimlessly on the streets anymore, and the daily increase in cases across Enshi Prefecture was effectively brought under control. On February 15, CCTV-13 News Channel’s “News Live Broadcast” focused on the epidemic situation in Hubei. The National Health Commission held a press conference to elaborate on the epidemic prevention, control, and medical treatment efforts carried out in Hubei. During the conference, it was mentioned that the current epidemic situation in the Enshi region remains predominantly characterized by imported cases, with a relatively lower risk of transmission. Enshi’s recognition by CCTV is a source of great pride and honor for me as a resident of this “Selenium Capital”. By contributing more to the epidemic prevention efforts on the home front, we can help alleviate the workload of the frontline medical staff. No winter is insurmountable, nor will any spring fail to arrive. Enshi will prevail, Hubei will prevail! May the day come when spring blossoms arrive, and people roam freely across the vibrant green hills. Authored by Wu Kunchun, a student from Class 1901 of Internet and New Media, School of Languages and Communication Studies. Current Place of Residence: Enshi City, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province. Tribute to the Most Admirable Community Workers. Community Screening Work. Epidemic Prevention and Control Duties. A Cleaner Who Fell Asleep from Exhaustion. Disinfection of Public Spaces.