A nurse who is helping Wuhan fight the coronavirus outbreak has told the Chinese government that she wants a boyfriend in return.

The 30-year-old Chinese medic wrote 'I hope the country can assign me a boyfriend when the epidemic is over' after a long day working at a makeshift hospital.

She then held a piece of paper bearing the message and posed for a picture - still donning a hazmat suit and a pair of goggles.

Single nurse Tian Fangfang (left) wrote 'I hope the country can assign me a boyfriend when the epidemic is over' after a day working at a hospital in Wuhan. She held a piece of paper bearing the message and posed for a picture (right) - still donning a hazmat suit and a pair of goggles

The single nurse, named Tian Fangfang, shared the photo on her social media account and it quickly went viral.

Ms Tian, who shot to fame overnight, confessed she was surprised to discover that 'the whole nation now knows I am looking for a partner'.

She said she wrote the note on Tuesday after being inspired by one of her colleagues, who had written 'I want a boyfriend' on her hazmat suit.

The nurse told independent media outlet Ren Jian Zhi Bei that she was hoping for a tall partner because she stands 5ft6in.

She explained that she shared the picture in hopes of encouraging the public to stay positive amid the health crisis and expect a better future.

But she added that at the moment, her most important task was to treat patients infected with the novel coronavirus.

Ms Tian explained that she shared the picture in hopes of encouraging the public to stay positive amid the health crisis and expect a better future. She and her colleagues left their hometown Changsha in Hunan to work in a makeshift hospital in Wuhan earlier this month

It is reported that Ms Tian was the first employee to sign herself up for the task at the Hospital Affiliated to Hunan Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute, where she works

'I am indeed I looking for a boyfriend, but right now my focus is to do my job well and do what a nurse should do. That is to help Wuhan people overcome the difficulties and beat the virus together,' she wrote on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter.

Ms Tian is one of the medical workers sent by the province of Hunan, which borders Hubei, to treat a large number of coronavirus patients in Wuhan.

It is reported that she was the first employee to sign herself up for the task at the Hospital Affiliated to Hunan Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute, where she works.

Her parents supported her choice.

Her father, who was also a medical worker and helped fight the SARS outbreak in 2003, reassured her that things would be fine as long as she took sufficient precautions, Ms Tian said.

She and her colleagues arrived at the Dahuashan Fang Cang Hospital in Wuhan's Jiangxia District on February 11 and have worked there since.

Globally, the coronavirus has killed at least 2,868 people and infected more than 83,800

Apart from giving patients treatment, she helps relieve their anxiety by leading them to sing and do group exercises.

Originating in Wuhan, the new coronavirus - known as COVID-19 - has killed at least 2,788 people and infected more than 78,800 inside China.

Hubei, situated in central China, accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the confirmed cases and 93 per cent of the deaths globally.

Wuhan, the provincial capital with 11 million residents, went into lockdown on January 23 in the wake of the outbreak. The majority part of Hubei then followed suit.

Apart from giving patients treatment, Ms Tian helps relieve their anxiety by leading them to sing and do group exercises. The picture shows patients following a hazmat-donning medical worker to work out inside one of the 'fang cang' makeshift hospitals in Wuhan on February 17

Hubei, situated in central China, accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the confirmed cases and 93 per cent of the deaths globally. Patients with the novel coronavirus are pictured resting in their wards at night inside one of the 'fang cang' makeshift hospitals in Wuhan on February 18

By February 15, the central government had sent 29,445 medical workers from around the country - alongside military medics - to help tackle the outbreak in Hubei. A medical worker in a hazmat suit is pictured treating a patient in a 'fang cang' hospital in Wuhan on February 17

By February 15, the central government had sent 29,445 medical workers from around the country – alongside military medics – to help tackle the outbreak in Hubei.

Overnight, the Hubei health officials reported 318 new cases out of a nationwide total of 327 and 41 new deaths out of the national tally of 44.

Outbreaks outside of China, however, have escalated in the past few days. Dozens of countries are now battling the contagion, with South Korea, Italy, Japan and Iran among the worst-affected.

Globally, the coronavirus epidemic has killed at least 2,868 people and infected more than 83,800.