Chinese doctor breaks down in tears as he meets his son for the first time after fighting coronavirus for 55 days – but can’t hug the boy due to infection concerns
- Video shows the tearful medic greeting his five-year-old son after two months
- Dr Hou came home from Wuhan today after fighting the coronavirus outbreak
- The father and son weren’t allowed to hold each other due to quarantine efforts
- It comes as crying residents welcome 137 medics returning to their hometown
- 3,675 medical workers from all over the country are leaving Wuhan this week
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
An emotional video has captured the moment a tearful doctor met his son for the first time after fighting the coronavirus outbreak for 55 days.
The medic refrained from holding his five-year-old child after returning to his hometown from former epicentre Wuhan.
They weren’t allowed to hold each other due to quarantine requirements because the father would need to be isolated for 14 days.
A doctor has been captured on camera reuniting with his son for the first time after fighting the coronavirus outbreak for 55 days – but he can’t hug the boy over infection concerns
The touching moment shows the five-year-old son being held back from embracing his father, who then breaks down in tears. Hou Siyuan (middle), 32, has come back to his hometown today after leaving his family in late January to join other medics in Wuhan
Doctor Hou Siyuan, 32, arrived in his hometown today after leaving his family in late January to join other medics in Wuhan, where the epidemic emerged in December.
Dr Hou, along with other 136 doctors and nurses, were the first group of medics from Liaoning Province in northeastern China who were dispatched to help treat the patients in Hubei.
This comes as crying residents lined up the streets to welcome the ‘heroic’ medics as they return to their native city.
A video shows the medical workers arriving in mini-buses and being escorted by a team of police officers riding on motorbikes.
The picture shows the touching moment the boy is being held back from embracing his father
The father and son weren’t allowed to hold each other due to infection concerns as the father is ordered to be quarantined for 14 days after his return today
People are seen excitedly waving at the doctors as the coaches drive by and shouting: ‘Welcome home!’
‘I waited [for the medics] for nearly two hours because I wanted to welcome them back personally,’ one woman told Pear Video.
‘Very excited,’ another 71-year-old elderly resident said, ‘I thought I must come here myself, to see the kids coming home.’
3,675 medical workers from all over the country have been gradually returning to their hometowns this week as China reported zero domestic cases today for a second time in a row
Medical workers are seen posing for a picture before they leave Wuhan to return home
3,675 medical workers from all over the country have been gradually returning to their hometowns this week as China reported zero domestic cases today for a second time in a row.
Mainland China had 39 new imported infections on Thursday, the commission said. Fourteen of these were in the southern province of Guangdong, eight in the commercial hub of Shanghai and six in the capital, Beijing, it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, nearly 245,000 cases have been detected globally and the death toll has risen to 10,028.
Boris Johnson ordered all pubs, bars, restaurants to shut down tonight in a dramatic lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus. He is seen speaking at a press conference yesterday
Boris Johnson ordered all pubs, bars, restaurants to shut down tonight in a dramatic lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The Prime Minister told a press conference today that social premises that also include theatres, cinemas, gyms and sports centres must close ‘as soon as they reasonably can and not to reopen tomorrow’.
It came amid fury at revellers mainly in London flouting pleas to stay at home, as the coronavirus death toll continues to climb to 177, with 40 more deaths today.