A view of Xiaotangshan Hospital in Beijing, on Jan 30, 2020. [Photo by Wei Xiaohao/chinadaily.com.cn]

Beijing has started rebuilding Xiaotangshan Hospital, which was used solely for SARS patients in 2003, in a bid to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, a senior official said on Jan 30.

Lei Haichao, director of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, said that the facilities need to be upgraded.

"It will be prepared with better conditions for use as a backup, according to the development of the ongoing epidemic," he said.