BEIJING — A total of 189 medical teams of over 21,569 medical workers had been sent to Central China's Hubei province to help combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as of Feb 12, according to China's National Health Commission.

To further support medical work in Hubei, more than 1,000 doctors, 1,681 nurses and 213 experts from 17 provincial-level regions including Tianjin, Hebei and Shanxi, were dispatched on Feb 12 to 16 cities and prefectures other than the provincial capital city of Wuhan, such as Enshi and the Shennongjia forestry district, to assist with the local anti-epidemic fight.

Another 2,600 military medical staff were also sent to Wuhan on Feb 13, Guo Yanhong, an official with the NHC, said at a press conference on Feb 13 in Beijing. She added that over 7,000 doctors and nurses are from intensive care departments, with the aim to effectively reduce mortality.

Three mobile P3 laboratories have been transported to Wuhan to help enhance the capability and efficiency of nucleic acid testing, Guo said.