A heat wave hitting China as the country experiences a further rise in COVID-19 cases is having serious consequences for caregivers who sometimes struggle to stay on their feet to complete their tasks.

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These COVID workers, who must wear head-to-toe white protective gear, are suffering greatly from the heat.

In videos posted on Chinese social media, and reported by CNN, these workers can be seen being helped by their colleagues after suffering discomfort due to the extreme heat.

Some lose consciousness and have to be undressed by other colleagues, who spray their faces with water.

Other images show a worker puncturing his suit to drain the sweat that has accumulated inside.

To cool off, employees use blocks of ice that they lie on or carry around while they continue to work.

Last week, more than 80 cities issued heat alerts in China, with temperatures that topped 43 degrees Celsius.