Wuhan City, the epicenter of the latest coronavirus outbreak in central China's Hubei Province, on Monday started building shelter hospitals with an estimated total of 3,400 beds for patients showing mild symptoms of coronavirus.

The city's authorities announced the measure Monday night at a meeting as it is ramping up measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Around midnight on Monday, workers started building temporary hospitals in three venues in the city: Hongshan Stadium, Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center and Wuhan Keting-Chinese Culture Expo Center.

Medical supplies are being transported from other parts of the country, as far as Liaoning Province in the northeast.

By about 10 a.m. on Tuesday, hundreds of temporary beds were already in place, according to Xinhua News Agency.

These shelter hospitals are expected to carry out a series of functions, including emergency aid, surgical treatment and clinical examination.

They are scheduled to receive patients as early as Tuesday night.

In addition to these shelter hospitals, Wuhan currently has 46 hospitals and 61 fever clinics designated for treating those infected with the virus.

By 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the epidemic had caused over 20,400 cases and 426 deaths worldwide. Wuhan alone had recorded over 6,380 cases and 313 deaths.

(All photos via CGTN)

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