Nurses serving as mothers in the hospital

Three children in Ningxia who were settled in new homes with temporary caretakers after their parents were confirmed as having the novel coronavirus pneumonia have tested negative and can come back home soon.

The children were isolated and nursed in the city's Maternal and Child Health Hospital on Saturday night by the region's health authorities, as their parents were confirmed as the novel coronavirus patients.

According to the local health authorities, the eldest child is six years old, the second eldest is four, and the youngest is only 45 days.

Du Rong, director of infection control at the Yinchuan City Maternal and Child Health Hospital Yuehai Branch, said after receiving the notification from the region's health commission, the hospital arranged individual wards for the three children for isolation, care, and medical observation.

"After nucleic acid testing, the three children were all fine and did not display any abnormal symptoms, but we kept checking body temperatures for them every day," Du said.

The hospital's cafeteria was closed for the Spring Festival holidays, so the doctors and nurses cook for the kids, including noodles, porridge, and boiled eggs.

The three experienced nurses serving as "temporary mothers" for the three kids are Liu Aiqin, Ye Nini, and Bai Rui.

"These three nurses look after these kids really carefully in the hospital, especially for the youngest kid, keeping their eyes on the kid all the time," said Du.

Du said for heath concerns, the three nurses were not permitted to eat, use the washroom, or drink water while they were on duty of looking after the kids.

"These kids are all in good condition, they sleep well, eat well, and we nurse the baby, change diapers, and check body temperature once every four hours," said Liu Aiqin.

Liu said apart from feeding them, they also read stories, sing songs, and chat with them.

"We hope they can feel at home here," said Liu.

"I am not married yet, but I am going to be a mother in the future," she said. "I always consider all the kids in the pediatric department as my own kids."