Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited the coronavirus-hit Wuhan city on Monday, the first such trip by a top leader as the death toll climbed to 80 with 2,744 confirmed cases.
Li arrived in Wuhan to inspect the epidemic control and prevention work, state-run China Daily reported.
He heads the high-powered group of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) officials empowered to deal with the rapidly spreading virus on war footing.
China extended its Lunar New Year holiday three more days to discourage people from traveling as it tries to contain the spread of a viral illness that has caused 80 deaths.
There were 2,744 confirmed cases by midnight Sunday, the National Health Commission announced. Tens of millions of Chinese who visited their hometowns or tourist spots were due to return home this week in the world's largest movement of humanity, raising the risk the virus might spread in crowded trains and planes.
The official end of the holiday will be postponed to Sunday from Friday to effectively reduce mass gatherings" and "block the spread of the epidemic, a Cabinet statement said. Schools will postpone reopening after the holiday until further notice, the statement said.
