During the 2019–20 COVID-19 pandemic, Zhang strongly advised the use of TCM. With the approval of the Central Guidance Team, he and 208 other experts formed a TCM medical team, and started treating patients in Jiangxia Fangcang Hospital, Wuhan.[3][4] His son, Zhang Lei (张磊), is also a physician. Zhang Lei also arrived in Wuhan to fight against the coronavirus, however, the father and son did not meet each other until the epidemic had waned in Wuhan.[citation needed]