China to improve diagnostic efficiency of novel coronavirus pneumonia

China will make all-out efforts to strengthen the diagnosis of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus, Chinese authorities have said.

Local disease control and prevention departments, medical institutions and third-party organizations should speed up the upgrading of laboratories and equip with facilities needed for the diagnosis of the pneumonia, said the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Health Commission at a teleconference Feb 5.

Suspected cases should be diagnosed in a timely manner in order to proceed with more efficient treatments and prevent the disease from spreading, the commissions said.

Localities were urged to expand the scope of coronavirus detection, especially for those who returned to work in key projects and enterprises, so as to shorten the observation period for prevention and control of the epidemic.