A kid performs for the healthcare workers after taking a nucleic acid test. Photo:Sina Weibo

 Recently, many videos of children from across the country dancing for healthcare workers after nucleic acid testing have been circulating on the Chinese internet. While touched by the children's courtesy, some have suggested that more time off is what the health care workers need most urgently.

The children's dance for the health care workers first appeared in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some parents taught their children the dance as a way of expressing gratitude for the hard work of the health care workers. At the time, many health care workers and the public were moved by the performance.

With the recent outbreaks in many parts of China, similar performances have appeared in various cities. Many schools even joined in, organizing large groups of students to perform for health care workers at nucleic acid testing sites using the same song and set of movements.

As more and more similar performances emerged, more people expressed a negative attitude. Many netizens pointed out that the performance is mainly to satisfy parents' vanity and does not help the epidemic prevention work.

To show respect for the children, in many of the videos, health care workers stand and watch the children perform. "What health care workers need more than anything is time to rest, so if they're done for the day, let them go home quickly and rest," said one netizen whose comment was echoed by many.

Global Times