WUHAN has established a headquarters for the control and treatment of the pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

The headquarters, headed by the mayor Zhou Xianwang, consists of eight groups including those in charge of emergency response supply, traffic, medical treatment and epidemic control, according to a meeting held Monday.

At the meeting, the headquarters requested setting up a medical team for the treatment of each infected patient in serious condition, and ordered measures to protect medical staff from being infected.

Public gatherings should be reduced or canceled, according to the meeting.

The meeting also requested measures such as the closing of the related markets, circulation control of wild animals, and supervision of body temperatures of the people at airports, railway stations and wharfs.

The headquarters will also be in charge of disclosing the latest information and progress in the prevention and control of the epidemic and spreading the prevention knowledge to eliminate social fears to the largest extent.

Also, the city has designated nine hospitals for pneumonia treatment and 61 fever clinics amid an increase in coronavirus-related pneumonia cases.

The city’s health commission published a list of the hospitals and clinics on its website.

A medical expert team has been set up, with 25 members from 10 provincial and municipal hospitals, according to the health commission.

In addition, the city has banned outbound tour groups, and local police are conducting spot checks on inbound and outbound private passenger vehicles for live poultry or wild animals, according to the municipal health commission.

Thirty-five stationary infrared thermometers and over 300 hand-held ones have been used to screen passengers with fevers at various transport terminals in Wuhan, including the airport, railway stations, bus stations and passenger piers.

Passengers with fevers will be registered, provided masks and brochures about pneumonia and advised to see doctors. Ticket cancellations and changes will be free of charge for them, according to the municipal government.

A fourth patient infected with the novel virus has been confirmed dead in Wuhan, according to a statement released by local health authorities yesterday. (Xinhua)