A ceremony celebrating role models in the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept 8 and two individuals from Lishui city – in East China's Zhejiang province – were honored with the honorary title of "outstanding individual", local officials said.

One recipient from Lishiui was Li Weiwen, deputy director of the geriatrics department of Lishui Central Hospital and temporary Party branch secretary of the centralized medical treatment center for COVID-19.

After the outbreak, Li was the first to participate in preparations for the city's centralized medical treatment center and the first to enter and carry out the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Officials said that following the joint efforts of Li and his team, Lishui  became the first prefecture-level city in Zhejiang to be cleared of local COVID-19 patients.

The second honored was Ye Chaoqun, deputy director of the joint services center at the municipal public security bureau.

In the wake of the outbreak, the municipal public security bureau – relying on an integrated operations center – has set up a special working squad to operate 24 hours a day.

Officials said Ye was in the first squad.

Focusing on the analysis of massive amounts of data, he devoted himself to decision making for epidemic prevention and control and provided precise and efficient support for grassroot-level medics and helpers.