A guiding group from China's central government questioned three local officials in Wuhan on Monday, epicenter of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) outbreak, over their dereliction of duty in the prevention and control work.

The three officials include Chen Xiexin, deputy mayor of Wuhan, and two heads of the districts in Wuhan.

The group from the central government has called to severely punish dereliction of duty, saying Party members and officials must take the security and health of people as a top priority.