After working for one month with COVID-19 patients in Mudanjiang, Yu returned to Qiqihar on May 27, as the the overall situation in Mudanjiang had stabilized.

As the director of an isolation ward, Yu established an orderly workflow at Hongqi that met high medical standards. He also helped the nurses care for patients day to day and performed disinfection work in the ward.

To remove patients' fear of the virus, Yu and some other medical workers provided some psychological counseling.

Yu, began working at Qiqihar First Hospital in 2008 and received many honors for his excellent performance.

"I'm shocked and sad to learn of Yu's death," an online message said. "I still remember the days my wife received treatment from Yu at Qiqihar First Hospital. He was a responsible doctor."