Shanghai medical teams aiding Wuhan

"When we take off our white gowns, we're the children of our parents and the parents of our children. But when we put the gowns on, we need to confront the virus directly and safeguard other people's health," Xu said.

Those from Shanghai who volunteered to go to Wuhan include a nurse who had planned to celebrate her child turning 1, but was unable to do so, and another nurse who postponed her wedding.

Many netizens have praised such workers, who have left their families at home as they join the front-line fight against the virus.

On Feb 11, the Shanghai teams in Wuhan received an anonymous letter of gratitude from local residents.