Big 'thank you' and small token of appreciation

The local government in Hubei province recently issued a document listing incentives for medical staff soldiering on the front line against the novel coronavirus and thanked them for their selfless service.

The document says children of medical staff members who are countering the outbreak will be given priority in education from kindergarten to middle school.

Those children who will take the senior high school entrance examination in 2020 will get an extra 10 points, and those who sit for the national college entrance examination will be given preference if they apply to colleges in Hubei.

Many other regions have also declared incentives for children of medical workers fighting the virus. Sichuan province has said it will give preference to children of these medical staff members seeking admission to educational institutes, from preschool to senior high school. Authorities in Datong city in Shanxi province said they will give 30 extra points in senior high school entrance exams to children of medical staff members attending to virus patients in Hubei.

People from all walks of life across the country have also expressed their gratitude to the medical workers. For instance, Guizhou province has decided to open the door to 420 tourist attractions in the province for free to all medical workers in 2020.

Just before the epidemic broke out, there had been reports of several assaults on doctors. But during this epidemic, medical staff members have left their families and children behind to rush to the front line and fight the virus without a moment's hesitation.

They are protecting and saving people's lives around the clock, despite the risk of infection and exhaustion from overwork. Some have even lost their lives in the process. Medical workers are the true heroes of the times we live in. They deserve respect and gratitude from society.

The preferential policies for medical staff and their families are born out of a sense of gratitude; the incentives are insignificant when compared to their contribution and loss.

It is necessary for a society to express appreciation for such people and promote a healthy relationship between patients and medical workers.