Medical workers as special guests

On Feb 29, Ai Houyu stopped shopping for groceries and wasted no time in rushing to a phone shop the minute he realized his mobile phone was missing. It was not the phone that he cared about, he had something else weighing on his mind.

Ai, 37, runs a private hotel, Aolihua Business Hotel, in Liaoyuan, a prefecture-level city in Northeastern China's Jilin province.

Ai has taken in many medical workers from four local hospitals since Feb 1. Although there were fewer than 10 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease last month, local authorities insisted on taking additional measures. All medical workers had to be isolated from the public, and between shifts, Ai's hotel was a conveniently located place where they could rest and relax.

"I had to be up to speed about how many would eat at the hotel on a daily basis and what else they would need, so I could prepare in advance," Ai says.

Everything had to be done in accordance with the city's disease control rules.

"They send their requests, for instance, a bottle of water or a delivery of goods from their families, via WeChat, and we take the items to their door," Ai adds. "They pick up before we leave."

His phone is essentially a supply hotline. Medical workers send lists of items they need, and then Ai buys them with the help of his employees. Everything is communicated over the phone. So, Ai got a new SIM card and put it in one of his old phones.

Since February, Ai has been waking up at 5:30 am and driving more than an hour to pick up his employees.

"It keeps them off public transport and reduces the risk of infection," he says.