A patient from the Philippines with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus pneumonia sent a letter to express his gratitude to medical workers at Haihe Hospital in the North China's municipality of Tianjin.

He describes the doctors, nurses and hospital staff as "heroes" and extends his salutes to them to express his sincere thanks to their dedicated efforts to help him amid "the difficult time of his life" when affected by COVID-19.

He is still in Tianjin for medical treatment.

Since late January, the hospital has cured 133 among the total 136 confirmed local patients and discharged the last local patient on March 15, the latest data fromthe Tianjin Health Commission showed.

Tianjin has been receiving imported cases offinternational flights thatwere diverted from Beijing since March 20.

To date, 44 imported cases are in the hospital under treatment, including the Philippine patient who wrote the letter, while 11 were cured and discharged from the hospital, the health commission said.

Last month five authorities, including the Civil Aviation Administration of China, announced thediversion of international flights heading to Beijing to land in 12 other cities, including Tianjin. The city was scheduled to receive 40 flights, the highest number among the total 12 airports, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

To date, more than 7,000 passengers from the flights are under quarantine in Tianjin, the local authority said.

The letter reads as follows:

Dearest doctors/nurses/hospital staff (heroes of everyone),

I wish I could mention you all but I could not remember your names. I would like to express my wholehearted appreciation for your care and professional attention that you have provided and are still providing to me, especially at this difficult time of my life where I needed to battle COVID-19.

You are all truly incredible and you all deserve a "Salute" fromall patients like me.

I know how difficult and how much sacrifice each and every one of you has to face every day to save the lives of people infected with COVID-19.

Thank you so much for your excellent medical service. You are all the simply the best!

Take good care of yourself. The whole world needs you right now.

(The patient's name was signed but his name is being withheld by the editors.)