A leading group of China's COVID-19 response on Thursday called for sending more advanced medical resources, especially life support system ECMOs, to Hubei Province, the epicenter of the epidemic.

The group, headed by Premier Li Keqiang, demanded further efforts to treat the severely ill COVID-19 patients to reduce mortality in Hubei, particularly in its capital city of Wuhan.

The meeting stressed the work to ensure the sufficient supply of daily necessities in Wuhan and Hubei, and to guarantee basic living conditions for people including non-Hubei residents who have been stranded in the province due to the suspension of transportation.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presided over the meeting.