Medical staff from the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University receive training on Feb 9, before their departure to help in Wuhan city. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The conversion work at Optics Valley Campus of Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College in Wuhan -- capital of central Hubei province and the epicenter of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) outbreak in China -- began on Feb 6, preparing the way for the medical isolation and treatment of serious patients.

According to local media reports, the second floor to the tenth floor of the inpatient department in the hospital located in Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone, also known as Optics Valley of China, will be transformed into an isolated ward for the NCP patients.

The whole reconstruction project will last for three days, when 800 beds will have been installed.

According to the officials in charge, in order to improve the construction efficiency, the project is being undertaken by two companies who started separately. After the project is completed and checked, it will further relieve the current bed shortage for serious patients.

Officials added that at the same time, medical staff from eastern China's Shandong province, Shanghai city and some other provinces were on their way for Wuhan to support the hospital.