Beijing renovates designated hospitals to increase bed supply

Beijing's top official has called for the renovation and expansion of designated local hospitals for patients infected with novel coronavirus to increase the supply of beds in coping with the fight against the contagion.

As of the end of Wednesday, Beijing had confirmed 366 novel coronavirus pneumonia cases, with three deaths, 68 cured, and another 295 under quarantine for medical treatment at designated hospitals, according to the Beijing Health Commission.

With a huge influx of people returning to Beijing, the capital should strengthen community-level prevention and control measures to cut off the source of contagion using its greatest effort, Beijing Daily reported, citing information from a meeting chaired by the capital's Party Secretary Cai Qi on Wednesday.

Officials and hospitals are also required to spare no effort in treating patients and improving recovery rates. Meanwhile, infection and mortality rates should be lowered within a certain period of time.

Competitive medical resources need to be concentrated to improve the overall treatment level, especially of critically ill and infant patients, according to the meeting.

Renovation and expansion of designated hospitals should also start soon to increase the bed supply, it said.

In late January, the city announced three municipal designated hospitals as well as 17 district level hospitals to receive novel coronavirus pneumonia patients for treatment.

The capital's health authority also announced in late January that Beijing has started rebuilding Xiaotangshan Hospital in Changping district, which was constructed to treat SARS patients in 2003. The newly rebuilt hospital is expected to begin accepting patients in the coming days.