WUHAN, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- "I believe that no winter is never-ending, and this virus-stricken winter will eventually end," wrote Sun Wanqing in a new year greeting card to her father, a doctor fighting against the novel coronavirus in the city of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province.
The 14-year-old girl, a middle school student, had a quiet and unforgettable Spring Festival, without the company of her parents. Since the novel coronavirus started to wreak havoc in the country, her father has been working on the frontline and her mother, an anesthesiologist, is required to remain on standby. It is difficult for the family to reunite during the traditional Chinese festival.
"I hadn't seen my father for a week when I began to write the card," Sun said.
Her father, Sun Peng, works in the emergency and fever department of Wuhan Union Hospital, one of the city's designated hospitals to admit patients infected with the new virus. For fear that his constant exposure to patients would infect himself and his family, Sun Peng rented a room nearby the hospital.
The last time that the daughter and father met was on Jan. 22, two days before the Chinese New Year's Eve, when Sun Peng had to go home to deliver medicine to his elderly mother and had a meal at home.
"We didn't have much time to chat that day, though my greeting card was ready. I filled his bowl with rice. He ate it in the doorway, refusing to sit together with us at the table. He didn't want to put us at risk of contracting the virus," the girl recalled.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the girl took a photo of the 200-character card and sent it to her father. Later, the photo, which contained her pride in his father's career and understanding of his work, went viral online. Viewers from across the country were deeply moved by the family's sincere love.
Wuhan, the center of the coronavirus outbreak, reported 576 new confirmed cases and 33 new deaths on Friday.
Hubei had reported 7,153 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection by Friday, with 249 deaths and 956 patients in severe or critical condition.
Sun Peng is one of the thousands of medics fighting the epidemic at the forefront. More than 6,000 medical workers from other provincial-level regions and the military have joined hands with local medical workers to combat the epidemic.
Yang Xiao, a doctor of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, could not help crying when calling her daughter in the hospital lounge. Having been away from home for a week, her baby could barely recognize her during the video chat.
"No big deal. It's good that she doesn't look for Mom," said Yang, choking back her tears.
At the Wuhan Union Hospital West Campus, one of the latest designated hospitals to admit novel coronavirus patients, 31 nurses cut their long hair before their medical training.
"Cutting hair short makes it convenient to wear protective clothing. And as we will be busy taking care of patients, there is limited time for us to take a shower or wash our hair," said Ge Lin, head nurse of the hepatobiliary surgery department.
Thanks to the efforts of the medics, as well as donations, funds and medical supplies from across the world, Hubei has made some progress in the fight. By Friday, the province has seen 166 patients discharged from hospital. More cured patients have also been seen in the country.
