A team of 83 expert doctors from national disease control institutions have arrived in Hubei Province and taken up posts in labs that test for coronavirus infections in patients. 

These experts come from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the disease control and prevention centers of 14 provinces, two municipalities and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. 

They were assigned to aid Wuhan and many other prefecture-level cities to test for the novel coronavirus in local laboratories.

The experts made urgent assessments on the current testing ability of laboratories and quick checks on lab equipment and biosafety protection equipment on their arrivals. They also went over laboratory procedures with local lab staff. 

These experts offered their experience and knowledge to local labs, greatly increasing the efficiency of diagnosing and confirming cases in hard-hit areas. This will help to prevent and control the epidemic as quickly as possible.

Working staff from Disease Control and Prevention Team of Zhejiang province carry on tests in Jingzhou City. (Photos: Wechat official account of China Disease Control and Prevention)

Working staff from Disease Control and Prevention Team of Chongqing Municipality carry on tests in Jingmen City.

(Compiled by Han Yuzhen)