WUHAN, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak in Central China’s Hubei Province, yesterday suspended another public-facility-turned temporary hospital as the number of COVID-19 patients continues to drop in the city.

The temporary hospital of Jianghan, which was converted from an existing international exhibition center of Wuhan, closed at 3 p.m., bringing the number of closed temporary hospitals to 14.

To treat patients with mild symptoms and isolate the source of infection, Wuhan converted public venues such as exhibition centers and gymnasiums into 16 temporary hospitals.

Some 12,000 patients were treated in these temporary hospitals, according to the city’s COVID-19 control headquarters.

The conversion work of the temporary hospital of Jianghan began at 5 p.m. Feb. 3, and it was delivered to Wuhan Union Hospital and put into operation at 5 p.m. Thursday.

With a total of 1,564 beds, the Jianghan temporary hospital received its first patient at 9 p.m. Thursday. Twenty-one medical teams from other provincial-level regions and six hospitals from Wuhan had worked in the hospital.

Over the past 34 days, the temporary hospital of Jianghan received a total of 1,848 patients, saw 521 patients being transferred to other hospitals and 1,327 patients discharged. It had the most available beds, admitted the most patients and saw the most discharged patients among all temporary hospitals in Wuhan.

The other two temporary hospitals remaining in operation are expected to close today, the headquarters said.

The National Health Commission said yesterday it received reports of 40 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 22 deaths Sunday on the Chinese mainland.

Among the deaths, 21 were in Hubei Province and one in Guangdong Province, according to the commission.

Wuhan reported 36 new confirmed cases and 18 deaths.

Meanwhile, 60 new suspected cases were reported nationwide, said the commission.

Also on Sunday, 1,535 people were discharged from hospital after recovery, while the number of severe cases decreased by 153 to 5,111.

(Xinhua)