Medical students volunteer to join Covid-19 frontline

Since the 4^th wave of Covid-19 broke out in Viet Nam in late April 2021, hundreds of medical students from Ho Chi Minh City’s universities have enthusiastically supported frontlines in the pandemic fight.

While most students left the city for their hometown to avoid getting infected, many students of the Faculty of Medicine decided to stay and registered to join the fight against the pandemic. The students were assigned to the rapid response team of the city. They are on duty at the quarantine checkpoints; they take sample for testing, collect data and trace contacts. For many days, they start early in the morning and work until the next morning. When asked, they all say they don’t feel tired at all even though the work is quite tough. The medical officials comment that the students are very supportive, and their expertise and computer skills are very good.

Medical students also try to balance between studying online and participating the volunteer work to fight the pandemic. They hope the city will return to normal soon.

Task 1. Mark the sentences T (true) or F (false).

1. Most medical students have participated in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. _____
2. They have done several tasks on duty. _____
3. They have to work long hours to fulfil their tasks. _____
4. They are enthusiastic but they don’t have high level of knowledge and skill. _____
5. Computer skills may be useful in the volunteer work. _____
6. They don’t study at all while they take part in the campaign. _____

Task 2. Match the words in the text to their meanings.

1. frontlines

_____A. a disease that spreads over many regions

2. pandemic

_____B. a high level of knowledge or skill

3. quarantine

_____C. to find someone or something that was lost

4. trace

_____D. important positions where you have much influence or face to something serious

5. expertise

_____E. a period of time during which many activities stop to prevent the spread of a disease