BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China has released a circular requiring strengthened medical treatment and management of patients with severe mental disorders during the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Mental health medical institutions should improve the prevention and control of the virus, prevent infection within their facilities, formulate response plans and ensure a reserve of protective materials, said the circular issued by a group of the State Council's joint prevention and control mechanism.

Community workers should promptly send patients with fever or other suspected symptoms of COVID-19 to designated hospitals for treatment, while providing sound community care to those at home by sending medication to their homes and providing online diagnosis to ensure their treatment, it read.