Hubei Prison Administrative Bureau announced a reshuffle on Monday afternoon as three senior officials were removed from their posts including the bureau's chief and deputy head.

This comes after the result of an investigation into how an ex-prison inmate from Wuhan, infected with the novel coronavirus, traveled to Beijing was released on Monday.

The incident has caused uproar in China as it is unknown how the inmate, surnamed Huang, left Wuhan, a city that has been sealed off since January 23, and "sneaked into" Beijing without any trouble.

Huang was released from Wuhan Women's Prison on February 21, less than a week after completing her sentence which finished on February 17.

Before Huang's release, a prison guard with whom she had come into close contact with was diagnosed with COVID-19 on January 29. 

During her observation period between February 17 and 21 in the prison, Huang had a total of 13 temperature checks, with her body temperature being 37.3°C on February 18 and 19. But she was still released.

She was picked up by her daughter and her daughter's ex-husband by car on the same day and arrived in Beijing, where her daughter lives, on February 22. Huang was diagnosed with COVID-19 in Beijing two days later.

The Beijing authorities Monday revealed details of the case at a daily press conference, saying that they were now working to see if Huang has committed a crime.

Four relevant parties in Beijing – the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the highway inspection station, the community where Huang resides, and the property management company – have all been penalized.

Several other officials from the Hubei justice department, Wuhan Women's Prison and the local public security bureau in charge of the expressway toll-gate were also punished.

Huang is now being treated at Beijing's Ditan Hospital.