BEIJING — Chinese authorities on Feb 17 called for unremitting efforts to contain the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic while resuming business operations in an orderly fashion.

Positive results have been achieved in the prevention and control of the epidemic through great endeavor, according to a meeting of the leading group of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Premier Li Keqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and also head of the aforementioned leading group, presided over the meeting.

A greater outbreak of the epidemic has been avoided through strengthened prevention and control measures, the group noted, adding that a positive trend has emerged nationwide in curbing the epidemic.

While highlighting that the epicenter of the epidemic remains in Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, as well as complicated changes of the epidemic, the group agreed that prevention and control measures could not be loosened as most regions of the country are gradually resuming the operation of businesses and schools.

Wuhan city and Hubei province were urged to continue to increase hospital beds and further meet the prevention and treatment demands in key areas hit by the epidemic.

In addition to more than 30,000 medics already dispatched from across China to aid Wuhan, more will be sent to Wuhan and other parts of Hubei, according to the meeting.

It now took between four and six hours for nucleic acid tests to yield results, compared with two days previously. The group decided that the test should cover all people who need to be tested.

The group called for an orderly resumption of business operations and production, the avoidance of unnecessary personnel gathering, and assistance to enterprises in solving their problems in terms of raw materials and funds.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the leading group, attended the meeting.