Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak of the new killer virus, will have a new 1,300 bed hospital in less than half a month, according to state media. The first dedicated hospital, with enough space for 1,000 patients, is due to be finished by February 3.

Hong Kong on Saturday activated the emergency level, the highest response level, for the new coronavirus pneumonia after more confirmed cases were reported.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam announced the decision to raise the level from serious to emergency in the latest effort to prevent the spread of the disease, at a press conference after a meeting with experts.

There have been five confirmed cases of the pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus by Saturday in Hong Kong.

Thirty provincial-level regions reporting cases of novel coronavirus in China have activated first-level emergency response to contain the spread of the viral pneumonia.

By the end of Saturday, 1,975 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus, including 324 in critical condition, had been reported in the provincial-level regions. The pneumonia situation had resulted in 56 deaths.

President Xi Jinping on Saturday said that China was "faced with the grave situation of an accelerating spread of the new coronavirus," however, Xi sought to reassure citizens, saying that the country will "definitely be able to win the battle". The crisis has muted celebrations related to the Lunar New Year, normally China’s biggest holiday.