Groups unite to boster battle against illness

Convenience stores

Meanwhile, in Shanghai's Yangpu district, a young employee moves around a convenience store, clad in goggles, a face mask and gloves.

He checks the freshness of food, tidies the shelves and disinfects the store as usual. Everything appears to be normal, apart from the fact that it is the only store in the street still open.

Part of the Bianlifeng chain, the store is just under 170 meters from a medical quarantine and observation center for those suspected to be infected with novel coronavirus pneumonia.

All other nearby stores, restaurants and supermarkets are closed.

Ma Wenke, a 21-year-old employee, has insisted on continuing to work at the store."At a time like this, it's essential that local residents have somewhere to buy daily necessities. This should be guaranteed," he said.

Convenience stores operated by Bianlifeng remained open round-the-clock throughout Spring Festival. Other convenience stores and supermarkets, including Family Mart and Hema Fresh, have all remained open. The market supervisory authority in Shanghai, meanwhile, is strictly monitoring goods and materials and is cracking down on any price hikes.

Ma and two other employees work at the store in Yangpu. Each works an eight-hour shift to ensure it remains open 24 hours.

"The number of customers has fallen by about one-third since Spring Festival, and the streets are largely deserted," Ma said.

He added that no customers are admitted unless they are wearing face masks. All areas of the store are disinfected each day by employees wearing goggles and masks, who have their temperatures taken to ensure the safety of customers and themselves.

"Even though people are seldom going out these days, they still need to eat. Some residents don't want to cook, or don't know how to cook by themselves. While all the restaurants are closed, our boxed meals have become very important," Ma said.

He added that these meals are now among the store's best-selling products, along with rice balls, sushi and milk.

He has met many police officers and medical workers from observation points, who visit the store to buy daily necessities. He also offers them a free delivery service and provides them with his phone number.

However, he no longer receives calls from one observation point, as medical workers there have told Ma they don't want him to run the risk of infection.

But there are people who still need him－he has been delivering goods for elderly people living nearby who are unable to go out to shop.

Ma is aware of the risk of infection, as his parents are doctors in his hometown of Linxia, Gansu province.

"They are very worried about me and call me nearly every day to check on my health and to give me suggestions. I send a photo to them of myself checking my temperature every day, and also wear protective clothing," Ma said.

"But I have not told them I'm working so close to the observation center, as I don't want them to be any more worried than they already are."