Brave Hearts

Individuals show commitment and courage in the fight against the deadly coronavirus epidemic

- Hu Fan, Ge Lijun & Li Qing

China’s battle with COVID-19 epidemic has seen dedicated individuals stand up and be counted at critical moments, often endangering their own lives. ChinAfrica features four of these people on the frontlines of the epidemic, who fly under the radar, yet do extraordinary things.

Calm Presence

Top respiratory expert reassures the public with professionalism during the novel coronavirus epidemic

On January 18, 84-year-old respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan took a train to Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, as confirmed cases of a disease caused by the novel coronavirus kept mounting in the city amid public concern about the nature and scale of the outbreak. The Spring Festival traffic rush had begun at the time and Zhong managed to get a seat in the dining car of the packed train.

A picture of him taking a nap in his seat went viral across China’s social media and news of Zhong traveling to Wuhan in his expert capacity brought a sense of assurance to the public, with many saying that a solution was assured with his involvement.

Zhong made a name for himself 17 years ago in another similar emergency against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), an epidemic that started in South China’s Guangdong Province and eventually claimed over 900 lives worldwide, including those of many medical practitioners. While doctors in many hospitals feared the very contagious and deadly disease, he demanded that patients in critical condition be sent to his team in a Guangzhou hospital.

During that fight against SARS, he formed China’s first medical expert team and built the first isolation ward for the disease. He led the draft of China’s first clinical standard for the disease and was the first to call for national and worldwide collaboration.

His team created a record by working for 193 consecutive days, treating 302 SARS patients.