Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for efforts to study the cured novel coronavirus cases and apply effective drugs in clinic to avoid public panic, as the death toll from the virus has risen to 909 in the mainland. 

Li said it is important to respect science and scientific rules in medicine and vaccine research to ensure safety and effectiveness, and scientists and medical workers should study over 3,000 cured cases and apply "effective medicine" in clinic as soon as possible. 

Such measures will increase people's confidence to contain the epidemic and avoid public fears, the premier said. 

Latest on the coronavirus outbreak: Over 40,000 cases confirmed in China, 909 deaths

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the leading group of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of the epidemic, made the remarks at a meeting with other members in the leading group on Monday.

Speaking of Hubei Province and Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, Li said epidemic prevention and control in the region still remain the top priority, and local authorities should continue to work to increase hospital admission and survival rates and reduce infection and mortality rates.

Li also asked local governments to support businesses and factories and help them resume production of medical supplies in order to meet the shortage of needed supplies in Hubei.

The meeting also called for timely solutions to problems in trans-regional transportation, improvement in the efficiency of supply distribution and ensuring market supply.

(Cover: A woman wearing face mask walks past empty shelf of tissue papers at a supermarket in Hong Kong, February 7, 2020. In recent days, residents have been stocking products amid growing coronavirus panic. /AP Photo)