For Zhong Xiaofeng, every second of every day is precious, as her job is to race against time to save more lives.

"I don't think about health risks too much, or even have time to be afraid, because saving patients is always my responsibility and mission," she said.

In the ICU, a place where many patients were facing death, the workload and risks were both greater than in any other wards. "Every step we take could mean life or death for the infected," she said.

Despite the risk of getting infected and the fatigue caused by the heavy workload, no one on the team had complained.

"We've also been encouraged by the patients," Zhong said.

"One day, a young nurse cried after walking out of a ward, and I thought she was too tired or felt uncomfortable. But she told me it was because a patient she looked after finally became conscious. She said her efforts were not in vain."