Wuhan, Feb 13 (IANS): Approved by Chinese President Xi Jinping, 2,600 additional military medical personnel will be tasked with treating patients in two hospitals in Wuhan, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

They will follow the operation model of Huoshenshan Hospital and be tasked with treating confirmed patients of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in Taikang Tongji Hospital and a branch of Hubei's Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, reports Xinhua news agency.

The two hospitals, with a planned capacity of 860 and 700 beds respectively, have clinical wards, as well as departments for infection control, examination, special diagnosis, radiation diagnosis, medical equipment, sterile supply, information and medical engineering.

The reinforcement medics come from healthcare institutions affiliated with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Joint Logistic Support Force, as well as the Chinese People's Armed Police Force.

Of them, a first group of 1,400 medical and nursing professionals will arrive in Wuhan on Thursday before starting treating patients there immediately.

So far, the armed forces have dispatched healthcare professionals in three batches, totaling 4,000, to support Wuhan in the fight against the outbreak.

Meanwhile, Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital city, reported 14,840 new confirmed cases and 242 new deaths on Wednesday, the highest daily increases so far.

This brought the total number of confirmed cases in China to 48,206, with the overall death toll at 1,310.