Shanghai medical teams aiding Wuhan

Tough tasks

Many front-line medical workers said a big challenge is refraining from eating, drinking and visiting the restroom for eight to 10 hours during their shifts.

"It takes 20 to 30 minutes to put on a protective suit and if we take it off to go to the restroom, we need to put on another one. We don't want to waste them, as there have been many reports that such supplies are running short," Xu said.

Members of the medical contingent that left Shanghai on Feb 9 took diapers with them.

Ying Yuhong, a nurse from the city who is working in Wuhan, said it was the first time she had taken blood from patients while wearing goggles, but her vision had been impaired by her own breath.

"That made me largely dependent on using a finger to locate the most appropriate blood vessel. The two layers of disposable gloves also made the job harder, but most patients cooperated very well," she said.