The Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center is expanding its facilities "to prepare for a rainy day", according to Wu Jinglei, director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission.

Wu spoke about the ongoing hospital expansion project on Feb 10 at the daily news conference regarding the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic in Shanghai.

As of noon on Feb 10, Shanghai has a total of 299 confirmed cases of NCP, 48 of which have recovered and been released from hospital.

"The headquarters of the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center was constructed in 2003 (during the SARS outbreak), when extra space and infrastructures were already designed and preserved for future use," Wu said, noting that the center in Shanghai's Jinshan district has been designated as a treatment facility for NCP patients in the city.

"In light of the NCP epidemic, we have now activated the emergency plan and started expanding the hospital facilities. It is a precaution for a rainy day."

According to the national strategy aimed at combating the NCP outbreak, the municipality has brought together patients, medical experts and resources at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center.

Founded in 1914 and attached to Fudan University, the center specializes in the treatment of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, AIDS and tuberculosis. The 33.5-hectare center has a branch in Hongkou district which covers 3 hectares, and the two facilities can handle a combined 660 inpatients.