BEIJING — China's armed forces have dispatched over 4,000 medical professionals in three groups to assist with the battle against COVID-19 in Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, since Jan 24.

"They have formed a relief force comprising a battlefront leading group, joint logistic support units and front line medical worker units," said Chen Jingyuan, health division director of the Logistic Support Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), at a press conference in Beijing on March 2.

The first group of 450 people left for Wuhan on Jan 24, the Chinese New Year's Eve, with the second group of 950 people leaving for Wuhan on Feb 2, and the third group of 2,600 people leaving for Wuhan on Feb 13, Chen said.

In addition, more than 160 people and 130 vehicles have been dispatched from the armed forces stationed in Hubei province to assist with transportation of supplies for the epidemic prevention and control, said Zhao Haifei, deputy director of the planning division of the CMC Logistic Support Department.

He added that the armed forces will stand by and follow commands to send more support to the epidemic prevention and control work.