As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep the globe, more stories are emerging of the physical and mental toll it is taking on our healthcare workers on the frontline.

Now, emotional footage has been shared online showing a doctor breaking down into tears after he was unable to embrace his son for fear of passing on the virus.

Dr Nasser Ali Al Shahrani, who hails from Saudi Arabia, was returning home from a shift at King Salman Hospital in Riyadh, when his boy ran towards him with his arms wide open. In the footage, Dr Al Shahrani, still in his work uniform, puts out his hands and says, ''no, no'', before crouching down and wiping tears from his eyes.

Speaking to Saudi newspaper Okaz, he said: "The aim of the clip was to make citizens and residents aware of hazards of the coronavirus and to comply with arrangements and instructions of the Health Ministry."

"All colleagues should avoid approaching their children and families until they wash their hands and take the necessary precautions," he added.

The video garnered quite the reaction on social media. "The doctor may be wrong in touching his face, but... This is the purest emotional love between the little kid (who does not know much about the seriousness of the issue) and the father (who just realized the seriousness). His only concern at that time, is to safe guard his son [sic]," wrote one social media user.

Another corroborated, "The fear and emotional exhaustion just pour off this man."

"Same story with most of us. Have to take a shower before I can Hug my kids. A new world, new realities [sic]," added a third.

At the time of writing, per the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been 697,244 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 33,257 deaths.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep the globe, more stories are emerging of the physical and mental toll it is taking on our healthcare workers on the frontline.

Now, emotional footage has been shared online showing a doctor breaking down into tears after he was unable to embrace his son for fear of passing on the virus.

Dr Nasser Ali Al Shahrani, who hails from Saudi Arabia, was returning home from a shift at King Salman Hospital in Riyadh, when his boy ran towards him with his arms wide open. In the footage, Dr Al Shahrani, still in his work uniform, puts out his hands and says, ''no, no'', before crouching down and wiping tears from his eyes.

Speaking to Saudi newspaper Okaz, he said: "The aim of the clip was to make citizens and residents aware of hazards of the coronavirus and to comply with arrangements and instructions of the Health Ministry."

"All colleagues should avoid approaching their children and families until they wash their hands and take the necessary precautions," he added.

The video garnered quite the reaction on social media. "The doctor may be wrong in touching his face, but... This is the purest emotional love between the little kid (who does not know much about the seriousness of the issue) and the father (who just realized the seriousness). His only concern at that time, is to safe guard his son [sic]," wrote one social media user.

Another corroborated, "The fear and emotional exhaustion just pour off this man."

"Same story with most of us. Have to take a shower before I can Hug my kids. A new world, new realities [sic]," added a third.

At the time of writing, per the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been 697,244 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 33,257 deaths.