China's Hubei to close temporary hospitals as situation improves

Central China's Hubei province, the center of the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is expected to gradually shut down temporary hospitals and cut the number of hospitals designated for the disease, local authorities said Tuesday.

Photo taken on Feb. 17, 2020 with a tilt-shift lens shows a temporary hospital converted from Wuhan Sports Center in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The province will classify areas based on different risks of infection for management as more cities have seen zero growth in newly confirmed cases, according to Tu Yuanchao, deputy head of the provincial health commission.

The province will gradually resume normal medical order while maintaining strict prevention and control measures, Tu said.

In Wuhan, the provincial capital and the epicenter of COVID-19, which is classified as high-risk, the commission has designated hospitals for treating patients in critical and severe conditions and those with emergency medical needs, Tu said.

As of Friday, Wuhan had over 5,000 spare beds in its 16 temporary hospitals, which were converted from gyms, exhibition centers and other facilities.

Hubei reported 114 newly confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection Monday.