Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

AsiaWire

This tear-jerking footage shows a policeman on the front line of tackling the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak seeing his newborn daughter for the first time during a video call with his wife.

Body-worn camera footage belonging to traffic officer Zhang Lin, 30, shows him stationed at a traffic checkpoint in Shuangliu District in Chengdu, capital of south-western China’s Sichuan Province.

He and his colleagues are monitoring and regulating traffic coming in and out of the city of 14 million people while trying to help contain the infectious disease currently sweeping across the country.

At around 6am local time on 2nd February, Officer Zhang received a missed call from his wife, followed by messages informing him of the birth of his daughter.

His spouse, who delivered the child at Shuangliu Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, was accompanied by other family members.

In the footage, Officer Zhang can be seen asking his captain for a few minutes to call his wife.

As the pair are connected through video chat, the emotional new dad learns that his wife has given birth to their daughter, and that both are healthy and safe.

The policeman is then repeatedly thanking his wife and apologising as he is unable to be by her side.

But his partner says: “I understand. Thank you, too.

“You’re sacrificing family for the greater good.”

As Officer Zhang admits he has not spent any time with his wife since before Chinese New Year, she adds: “Because of the outbreak. I understand.

“You’re a policeman. Serve the people well.

“Don’t worry about things at home.”

The couple end the video call by promising to talk again at the end of Officer Zhang’s shift.

According to the authorities, Officer Zhang later informed his supervisors about the birth of his daughter, and he has since been given leave to spend time with his wife.

The policeman joined Shuangliu Public Security Bureau in August 2017.

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