Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, on Jan 27 to inspect and guide the efforts to prevent and control the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Guarantee medical resources supply

He visited patients and medical staff at the Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital and thanked front-line medical workers for their all-out efforts in treating patients and urged them to pay attention to their own protection.

He required efforts to guarantee medical resources supply and race against time to treat patients.

When inspecting Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Premier encouraged researchers to strengthen the research of novel coronavirus.

Race against time

Premier Li also arrived at the construction site of the new Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital, a specialized hospital for novel coronavirus patients in the western suburbs of Wuhan, and talked to construction workers.

He urged the workers to race against time to finish building the hospital as a "safety island" for the patients.

"We must use every possible means to admit all the patients (into the hospital)," Premier Li said.

The Premier also urged efforts to protect the construction workers against infection.

Ensure stable market supply and prices

Premier Li told shoppers that people across the country will always provide strong backing to Wuhan citizens when visiting a local supermarket.

The country has sufficient resources in all aspects and has established a green transportation channel, he said and added the government would ensure adequate market supply and stable prices.

We will seriously investigate and legally punish those who bid up prices, the Premier said.

Send transparent, authoritative information timely

After the tour, Premier Li held a working conference, making further deployment on the scientific, accurate and orderly prevention and control of the epidemic.

He announced that on the basis of the mobilization of medical personnel and materials in the early stage, 2500 medical workers, especially nurses, will be sent to Wuhan in two days.

According to Premier Li, 20,000 medical goggles should also be delivered to Wuhan on Jan 27.

He stressed that the country will treat special issues specially, mobilize all forces and increase support to meet Wuhan's needs, no matter the personnel, materials or funds.

Premier Li urged Hubei province and Wuhan city to send authoritative information and respond to public concerns in a timely and transparent manner.

Premier Li is also head of the leading group of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The National Health Commission confirmed 2,744 cases with total deaths rising to 80 as of midnight on Jan 26.

The visit was made one day after Premier Li urged authorities at all levels to prioritize the safety and health of the people and called for the strict implementation of containment measures while chairing a symposium on determining the policy of control and prevention.