Fourteen people who lost their lives fighting COVID-19 on the front line were honored as martyrs,the government of Hubei province announved on Thursday.

Li Wenliang,a doctor in Wuhan ,capital of Hubei province,died of the cirus on Feb 7.

They are the first batch of martyrs commended for their efforts in containning the outbreak.

The selection was made in line with the country's relevant regulations,said the provincial government in a statement.

The martyrs chose to fight the battle against the virus knowing the danger ahead regardless of personal safety.

The epidemic has caused the most extensive spread of infection and has been the most difficult to contain in the country since the  founding of the People's Republic of China ,it said.

The martyrs include 12 frontline medics who were infected while diagnosing and treating patients.

Wang Bing,72 decided to keep her clinec open in Wuhan and treat patients when medical resources in the city were extremely overtretched at the beginning of the ourbreak.

She died on Feb 18 after being infected.

Zhang Kangmei,68 a physician ,volunteered to work at a community medical service center in Wuhan to assess people with fever.

She got the virus during the process and died on Feb 14.

Besides medical workers,a police officer and a community official were also among the martyrs.

Wu Yong ,51 a police officer,had worked 61 days straight before he died on March 22.

He had been help transfer patients in Wuhan.

From:China Daily