With the optimization of COVID-19 prevention measures nationwide, numerous people have managed to return home during the Spring Festival holiday. But Liu Zifei, a Party member in Hefei, Anhui province, is not among them.

Liu is the Party chief of the Lianhua subdistrict of the Hefei Economic and Technological Development Area. He was required to stay in Hefei during the holiday period in case of emergencies.

"We need to remain alert to the risk of COVID-19, especially among the elderly, in addition to environmental protection, fire alarms and food supplies," said Liu.

"As China optimizes epidemic prevention and control measures, this year's festival could be a vital transition period, so we must make every effort to ensure peoples' happiness," he continued, adding that he has not forgotten how the hard times began.

For the weeklong festival in 2020, he and his colleagues worked all-out on epidemic prevention and control.

With more than 120,000 residents in seven neighborhoods and over 9,000 businesses, Lianhua is the largest subdistrict of the province's largest development area.

Fan Li, Party chief of the Mingzhu neighborhood committee,said that at first, things were messy because community workers did not have the experience needed to handle this kind of situation.

By the time the 2021 Spring Festival arrived, she was able to do her work in a more orderly manner. Yet each of the eight community workers on the committee still stayed on duty for at least two days.

Peng Guizhen, director of the general office of the area's COVID-19 prevention and control command center, said that though the work then was tough,it had been successful.

The area had no infections for more than two years until March 25, 2022, when an outside truck driver tested positive.

In the course of more than 100 consecutive days, Liu and his team helped with epidemiological investigations, testing and providing other services till the situation eased.

Now with the decrease in pressure from COVID-19, he said that he and his team will have more time and energy to improve services for residents and companies.

"One of the favorable legacies of COVID-19 work is that now we know more about those we serve,like who our residents are and how many employees a company has," he said.

Fan echoed a similar sentiment,adding that: "One of our committee's key plans in the new year is to organize more activities for housewives."

Li Shuyang in Hefei contributed to this story.

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