Volunteer drivers rally to offer help in Wuhan

Wang said: "As public transportation was suspended, how would those who had become infected go to a hospital, and how would medics get to work to save patients? I thought about these issues on Jan 23, and that's why I chose to work as a transportation volunteer."

Zeng Hongbo, a manager at Didi Chuxing who is helping to organize volunteers, said the company had seen that many medical workers had tried to seek assistance with transportation online after the lockdown was imposed. It contacted the authorities in Wuhan and offered to organize volunteer drivers to provide free services to those in need during the epidemic.

More than 200 drivers have been organized to provide services for medical workers at 16 hospitals in the city, while over 1,300 others have been sent to communities to provide transportation support, Zeng said.

Wang was sent to a community of more than 2,000 residents in Wuchang district. She is responsible for picking up workers whose journeys are essential and also for transporting medical supplies and other materials needed by the community.

"Usually, I give rides to seniors with chronic illnesses so they can be treated at the hospital," Wang said. "Sometimes, I also help the neighborhood committee transport materials needed for epidemic prevention and control."

She said that a few days ago, she drove a woman in her 70s who has kidney failure to her regular dialysis session, but the woman refused Wang's offer of help to walk into the hospital. "She told me she was worried I might run the risk of becoming infected. Her words moved me greatly," Wang said.