Following a national "pairing-up support for Hubei" policy, a medical team of 159 staff from 17 hospitals in Southwest China's Chongqing set off for Xiaogan in Central China's Hubei province on Tuesday to help in efforts to control the novel coronavirus, local government said.

The team consists of doctors and nurses from the departments of pneumology, ICU and infections, as well as some other related professionals.

So far, Chongqing has sent 300 medical workers to Xiaogan.

Chongqing, a mega-city of 30 million people, is facing severe challenges to control the epidemic as it has close transport ties to Wuhan, capital city of Hubei, the epicenter of the outbreak.

As of Tuesday, Hubei reported 31,728 confirmed cases, according to the province's health commission.

In Wuhan city, the number of confirmed cases rose to 18,454, followed by Xiaogan and Huanggang, with 2,642 and 2,332 confirmed cases, respectively.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, announced on Friday that the 16 cities in Hubei province that have been the hardest hit by the outbreak each have been partnered with a province or municipality that will provide assistance.

Chongqing and Northeast China's Heilongjiang province have been appointed to send help to Xiaogan due to its severe epidemic situation.