WUHAN — Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan stressed racing against time to accept and treat patients infected with the novel coronavirus on Feb 8.

Sun, who leads a central government group to guide the epidemic control work in Hubei province, said that targeted treatment should be carried out according to the severity of patients' conditions.

Sun also highlighted the distribution of protective materials to medics to ensure the frontline fighters' safety.

During an inspection tour of Wuhan on Feb 8, the group visited Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital, a field hospital used for severe and critically ill patients, and two vocational schools that are being converted into quarantine spots.

Under the group's guidance, more than 11,000 medical staff from across the country joined the fight against the virus in Wuhan, three designated hospitals were renovated to accept patients in severe condition, and three public-facility-turned temporary hospitals established for patients with mild symptoms.