Transportation services mobilized to fight virus

China has been stepping up transportation efforts at all levels to deliver essential goods and medical materials to Hubei province to support the battle against the novel coronavirus, according to the country's top transportation authority.

As of Wednesday, the Ministry of Transport has mobilized emergency transportation vehicles to deliver over 400 tons of medical supplies and necessities, including masks, thermometers and protective clothing, to Hubei province, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

China State Railway Group has also sent 6,190 tons of materials necessary for the fight against the epidemic as of 6 pm Wednesday, including 1.94 million masks and 111 tons of medicine, the ministry said.

The civil aviation sector has arranged a total of 1,421 flights, transporting over 1,180 tons of prevention and control materials nationwide and with 532 tons to Hubei, it said, adding it also provided 43 chartered flights for over 4,900 rescue workers.

China Post Group Corporation organized more than 12,000 postal vehicles to deliver over 21,000 boxes of medical supplies, as well as chartered flight service from Beijing and Guangzhou to Wuhan, capital of Hubei, carrying a total of 15,000 kilograms of masks and related products.