Shanxi province will establish a provincial key laboratory for major infectious diseases prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment -- to effectively deal with major infectious diseases including the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, according to the Shanxi Science and Technology Department on Feb 24. 

Shanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention will cooperate with 10 medical institutions and universities in Shanxi -- such as Shanxi Bethune Hospital and Shanxi Medical University -- on developing the lab with support from the Shanxi Science and Technology Department and the Shanxi Health Commission.

During the prevention and control period of the coronavirus outbreak, the laboratory's independent research projects will be recognized as provincial science and technology projects after being registered by the Shanxi Science and Technology Department.

The lab will comply with relevant national requirements when carrying out research, teaching, testing and diagnoses related to pathogenic microorganisms (toxic) species and samples.

It will make work concerning the prevention and control of the coronavirus epidemic a top priority -- organizing scientific researchers to conduct collaborative research into diagnoses and treatment, effective drugs and virus traceability targeting the epidemic.