Elevator repairman's uplifting selflessness

People from all walks of life are pulling together to make sure that life in Shanghai goes on with minimized disruption during the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in the city, and one of those people is elevator repairman Hao Ze.

While most people think of volunteers, delivery drivers and medical staff as being critical to the current functioning of Shanghai, the modern city is home to hundreds and hundreds of high-rise buildings, many of them residential.

Hao, from Shanghai Wanti Engineering, is tasked with ensuring that all 61 elevators in a community on Chenhui Road remain in good condition and operational at all times.

"Equipment such as elevators need regular maintenance. We have to check and maintain each one in the community every fortnight and check if there are any problems," the 33-year-old said.

During one maintenance check, Hao learned that the dormitory he lives in would be locked down because of the outbreak.

Worried that he might not be able to leave the dorm and service these elevators in a timely manner, he has spent the past few weeks living in his maintenance van.

"We need to do a nucleic acid test before we can get out to do servicing. But if the elevator is stuck with people inside and requires emergency repair, we cannot afford any delay," he said.

"Our company said that we could sign up voluntarily if we wanted to stay in the areas we are responsible for."

In the beginning, Hao depended on food deliveries but then had to rely on his own stockpile of food when the community began closed-loop management.

He said his workload has been heavier during the lockdown period, explaining that the frequent spraying of disinfectants on the floor buttons has caused some lifts to malfunction.

Residents in the community were moved when they learned of Hao's dedication to his job.

"The lockdown of our community was once lifted for a few hours and he had the chance to go out. But he chose to stay and maintain these elevators. I admire that," said a resident in the community.

Many neighbors have provided Hao with food, blankets, alcohol wipes and eye patches for sleeping during this challenging period.

But Hao insists he is nothing special and is just doing his job.

"Many of my colleagues have taken the initiative to stay in the communities they are responsible for. No one is complaining," he said.

Elevator maintenance is considered an essential service that is allowed to continue during the current lockdown.

On March 30, an elevator in a community in Zhujing, Jinshan district became stuck while some residents were heading down to take nucleic acid tests.

Five residents, including an elderly man surnamed Wang who suffers from asthma, were stuck inside.

A repair team was dispatched immediately to rectify the issue.

A similar situation occurred in the town of Jinshanwei on April 3 when a freight elevator used to carry vegetables broke down.