Getting a haircut has become difficult and urgent in China since most of the barbershops across the country have been temporarily shut down to avoid any gathering of crowds amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Discussions on how to get a haircut at home have been abuzz on Chinese social media as many people are struggling with their shaggy hair.

For front-line medical personnel, getting a haircut is even more urgent and necessary. In order to better fit in the productive suits and prevent exposure to the virus, they have to cut their hair short to improve the efficiency and reduce any potential risks.

To help, a barbershop has opened specifically for medical workers in Renji Hospital in east China's Shanghai. On its first day, it served more than 20 medical workers.

The decision to open a barbershop especially for medics was made due to an emergency task. On February 11, the hospital received a notice and was asked to form a medical team within 10 hours to relieve the shortage of medical personnel in Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak.

That's when the hospital started its plan to build its own barbershop and the construction was completed within only three days.

Even though the facilities in the temporary barbershop are simple, it's still equipped with all types of necessary hairdressing tools, including scissors, faders, combs, chairs and barber cloth.

A barber who has been working for the hospital for over 20 years gave medics a haircut, but before starting, he needed to disinfect the tools.

Huang Huan, an emergency physician in the hospital, was the first to get a haircut at this special barbershop. He asked to go bald as he was prepared to head to Hubei Province as a member of the hospital's dispatched medical team.

Another emergency physician Xiong Jianfei was also among those who has worked on the front line since the outbreak. He was too busy to get a haircut. A photo of him taking off his surgical cap stunned everyone because his hair was dented by the rubber band of the mask. 

"The opening of the barber shop in Renji Hospital has solved the problem of getting a haircut for medical workers. It's so timely. Other barbershops will not open until February 20," said Zhang Guohua, a dentist of the hospital, expressing his gratitude towards the hospital and the barber.

A total of 217 medical teams comprising of 25,633 members from across China have been dispatched to Hubei Province to fight against the coronavirus, according to Wang Hesheng, new director of the provincial health commission on Saturday.