Employees of a Long An cashew processing factory are adjusting to their workplace becoming home until they get vaccinated for Covid-19. 

The Long An Cashew Company’s workshop has 164 workers. Amidst the ongoing Covid-19 wave, the factory began implementing a safety plan on July 13 to maintain production. It is housing 107 employees who will undergo Covid-19 testing once a week and strictly observe distancing guidelines. 

In front of the workshop and the canteen is the handwashing zone with dryers allow workers to wash their hands frequently. They keep a distance of 1.5 m from each other for safety.

The company also set up a sensor disinfectant sprayer for workers to sanitize their hands before and after having meals in the dining area.

In the 288 m2 dining area, each table has a glass divider with workers sitting on either side, opposite to each other. Only 30 workers are allowed in the dining area at a time. At each dining table, there is also a bottle of alcohol disinfectant. After finishing their meals, workers will use it to clean their hands before doing it one more time at the sprayer.

A meal includes rice, braised meat, vegetable soup with minced meat and fruit. The menu is changed every day to provide variety and nutrition. The company provides three main meals a day and side meal of instant noodles or milk in the evening.

After 8 p.m., the female workers take a walk and exercise on the company premises while maintaining a 1.5 m distance from each other.

In the evening, the tables and chairs at the canteen are neatly folded and the floor is cleaned to serve as the sleeping area. The factory has separate sleeping areas for female and male workers.

After eating and exercising, the workers can relax and sleep. Each worker is given a set of mosquito nets, pillows, blankets and mats with their names on them. Each person's sleeping area is also numbered and named to make tracking easier in case of infections occur.

From 7 p.m. onwards workers lie on their mats under the nets to watch news and entertainment on the phone or call and text their family. Usually, after 9 p.m., all lights in the room are turned off for everyone to sleep.

Sitting inside her bed net, Trinh Thi Hai Yen, 44, makes a video call to her husband and daughters. Her house is about 10 km from the company, but she has been staying in the factory for the last five days. Her husband had to take care of their two daughters, 18 and seven. 

"I have only been away from home for a few days, but I already miss my husband and children a lot. I can't hold back my emotions every night when I call them. I hope the pandemic will end soon so I can go home to my family," said Yen, who has worked for 21 years at the factory.

Early morning, the workers fold their bedding items and put them on the shelves, have breakfast and start a new working day. 

Company officials said they will continue to let the workers stay here until they are vaccinated for Covid-19.

The southern province of Long An currently has 62 industrial clusters and 35 industrial parks with nearly 400,000 workers.

As of Sunday morning, Long An had recorded 698 Covid-19 cases. It is expected that the Ministry of Health will support Long An with 400,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine with priority given for factory workers.