Over 3,000 medical workers bid farewell to Wuhan as epidemic brought under control (3)

Over 3,000 medical workers dispatched from various Chinese provinces to central China’s Hubei province, epicenter of the novel coronavirus epidemic, began leaving for home in batches on March 17, the WeChat account of China News Service reported.

These medical workers, who belong to more than 40 medical teams, received the highest honors as they made their way to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, with police cars clearing the way and police officers lining up to salute them.

Since the onset of the epidemic, medical workers from all over China have rushed to Hubei province to help with the fight against the novel coronavirus there. Now that the epidemic in Wuhan and Hubei is being brought under control, and the number of confirmed cases has plummeted, it is time for these medical workers to bid farewell to the province.

At around 10 a.m., the medical team from south China’s Hainan province arrived at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, where local volunteers had gathered to thank them and see them off.

Holding banners with slogans such as “You are the loveliest people of the new era” and “People in Wuhan will always remember you,” volunteers lined up outside the airport’s departure lounge and waved goodbye to each of the medical teams that was about to leave.

The medical teams also warmly responded to the cheers from the crowds along the road.

Some of the members of the Hainan medical team sang a Hainan folk song that they had sung with their patients in the temporary hospital.

Team member Wang Xuelian was one of the many medical workers deeply moved by the scene, as it brought back memories of an extremely difficult but touching experience on Feb.4 at the Fangcang temporary hospital in Wuhan’s Jianghan district.

One day, Wang’s protective suit was punctured as she was drawing blood from a patient. The patient immediately told her to stay away to avoid infection, and sought help for her, according to Wang.

The local people were very grateful and kind, and gave a great deal of encouragement and support to her and her colleagues, Wang said.

Coming from Hainan province, the team members were used to warm weather, and found the cold and humidity of Wuhan difficult to bear. To help them deal with the freezing temperatures, local workers provided them with warmer clothes, such as down apparel.

For Wang, the joint efforts with the local people in fighting the epidemic has been unforgettable, as she experienced a whole range of emotions – the difficulties upon arrival, the happiness of seeing their patients recover, as well as the pride and excitement they felt when the temporary hospital closed.

She also became friends with more than 20 patients. “We’ve agreed to meet again next year,” Wang said.

Medical workers from other provinces who helped fight the disease in Hubei were equally emotional as they prepared to leave.

“I’ve been here for 52 days. Though I feel homesick, I feel reluctant to leave now,” said Liu Rui, a nurse at the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, who cried uncontrollably as she prepared to go back to Tianjin on March 17.

“I have a strong sentimental attachment to the city and the people,” she said, adding that she hopes the city will return to normal soon and that she will come back to see its beautiful cherry blossom next year.

The third batch of medical teams from Guizhou province will board the train home on the same afternoon. Before leaving, 60-year-old team leader, Deng Jin, voiced his hope of coming back in the future with his family.

The team had rescued over 80 novel coronavirus pneumonia patients at the Fangcang temporary hospital in the Wuhan Sports Center over the past month.