The government of Wuhan, a major city by the Yangtze River with a population of 11million, has ordered a state-run construction company to design and build the emergency facility in Caidian District, according to Chinese media.

The institution will reportedly be modelled on a six-acre temporary treatment centre, which was built in Beijing in seven days to tackle SARS in 2003 and had 1,000 beds.

The news was disclosed by Chinese news outlet Jiemian, which is affiliated to the official Shanghai United Media Group.

The report claimed that the urgent task had been given to China Construction Third Engineering Bureau, whose employees are expected to finish designing the hospital tomorrow.

More information of the facility is yet to be released, but the article said it would comprise one-to-two-storey prefab houses.

Wuhan health authorities said today that the number of fever patients had surged and hospitals were seeing long queues and facing shortage of beds.