More than 2,000 community workers in Xihu district, Hangzhou, have been fighting the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP) over the past few days while most people were celebrating the Chinese New Year with their families.

These community workers are helping manage patients with the virus, collecting data, delivering food to residents in quarantine, and dealing with other emergencies.

Some of the community workers don’t even have time for a good night's sleep or a meal with their families.

For Guo Dongjie, Party secretary of Jingdu Community, Jiangcun Street, Xihu district, Jan 27 was a day he would never forget. 

That evening, while Guo was busy discussing the prevention and control of the virus, he received a call telling him that his grandmother had passed away. However, he told nobody and continued working late into the night.

Over the next few days, he remained on duty rather than taking a leave.

Lu Jie, deputy director of Songmuchang Community in Beishan Street, is responsible for monitoring those in quarantine in residential communities.

Every morning, Lu must be at work before 8 am to examine the health of those in quarantine. He barely even has time to drink water throughout the day.

Many other community workers are just as dedicated as Guo and Lu. They are referred to as "guardian angels" by many in Hangzhou.