WUHAN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Tuesday expressed condolences to Chinese people who died in the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, and people who sacrificed their lives fighting on the front line.

On behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extended greetings to all Party members, cadres and people in Hubei Province and its capital city of Wuhan.

Xi went to Wuhan Tuesday to inspect the epidemic prevention and control work.

Xi also sent his respect to medical workers, military officers and soldiers, community workers, police officers, officials, volunteers and people of all fields who have been fighting the epidemic on the front line.

He expressed sympathy to patients who are combating the disease and their relatives, as well as families of those who died of the disease and those who died on duty.

As of Monday, a total of 80,754 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 had been reported on the Chinese mainland, and 3,136 people had died of the disease.