Construction workers take a break from building Leishenshan Hospital. WANG JING/CHINA DAILY

Wang Xinghuan, president of Leishenshan Hospital, said 3,202 medics from 286 hospitals throughout the country arrived at the facility to help treat critically ill patients infected with novel coronavirus pneumonia.

Recalling the onset of the outbreak, Wang, also president of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, said that before January, there were six pneumonia patients at this hospital, but doctors were not sure what had caused the disease.

However, Wang said medics were certain that one patient was linked to the Huanan Seafood Market, where the first case of novel coronavirus infection was found.

"We maintained our vigilance ...On Jan 3, we started to purchase protective gear, establish isolation wards, and asked our medical workers to strengthen protection," he said.

On Jan 20, leading respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan told the media there was a risk of person-to-person transmission from novel coronavirus pneumonia.

Wang was told to take charge of Leishenshan Hospital in early February. At the time, he was leading 50 medics to help the local government convert an exhibition hall into a temporary hospital to admit patients with mild symptoms of the disease.

"I couldn't believe it when I was told of the mission, as I never imagined I would be given such an important but challenging task," he said.

Wang made his first visit to the Leishenshan Hospital site in the morning on Feb 8, when he saw many workers busy with the project, but only two wards had been completed. However, that evening, the hospital started to admit patients.