Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered resolute efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus that caused cases of pneumonia in some major Chinese cities and other Asian countries.

Xi said governments and departments at all levels should put the health and safety of the people in the first place, especially during a time when China is experiencing huge mobility during the Spring Festival holiday.

Xi urged relevant parties to take effective measures to stop the spread of the virus, make all efforts to cure the infected, find out the origin of the virus and how it has been spreading.

 He also required the timely release of the latest information about situation of the disease and called for deepened international cooperation. 

Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also made important instructions on the spread of the virus, saying China will work with the World Health Organization (WHO), relative countries and regions to deal with the new coronavirus and strictly prevent its further spread. 

As is required by President Xi and Premier Li, the State Council has convened a teleconference on Monday to make comprehensive deployment of the prevention and control of the pneumonia outbreak.

The National Health Commission has set up a special leading group to guide local governments to properly cope with the epidemic.

China has reported 217 confirmed cases and seven suspected cases of this new type of coronavirus, labeled 2019-nCoV, as of Monday afternoon at 6:00 p.m.

The mysterious virus was first reported in Wuhan City, Central China's Hubei Province in December 2019, where it might originate at a seafood market.