BEIJING — Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan on Jan 20 stressed scientific and orderly prevention and control of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has caused over 200 cases of pneumonia.

Making the remarks at a teleconference to make arrangement for the prevention and control work, Sun called for efforts to safeguard the people's health and maintain social order.

Pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus has been classified as Class B infectious disease and managed as Class A infectious disease, Sun said, adding that measures including epidemic monitoring and quarantine should be carried out in accordance with the law.

She demanded the city of Wuhan, where 198 cases have been reported as of 6 pm on Jan 20, to take stricter measures to curb the virus spread in the region as well as its transmission to other places.

Sun urged stepping up efforts on scientific research on the virus, calling for an early date to find effective treatment procedures and medicines.

She also stressed openness and transparency of information as well as international communication and cooperation.