This aerial photo taken on Sunday shows the Huoshenshan hospital after handed over to China's army in Wuhan. AFP

The Chinese authorities completed the construction of a hospital for treating people infected with coronavirus in Wuhan on Sunday.

The first patients arrived on Monday at the hospital that was built in 7 days.

A patient room is seen at the Huoshenshan field hospital in Wuhan. AP

More patients were transferred to the newly opened hospital, a media report said.

Around 4,900 construction workers, 1,000 excavators and construction machinery were used in building the hospital. The hospital is equipped with 1,600 beds and has state-of-the art equipment.

Around 1,400 military medics will treat patients at the 1,600-bed hospital, dubbed "Fire God Mountain."

The Huoshenshan Hospital and a second facility with 1,500 beds that is due to open this week.

Around 10am, the first patients arrived at the hospital.

This aerial photo taken on Sunday shows the Huoshenshan hospital after handed over to China's army in Wuhan. AFP

Medical teams from the People's Liberation Army were arriving in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, to relieve overwhelmed health workers and to work at the new 1,000-bed hospital, located in the countryside far from the city center.

Its prefabricated wards, where patients began arriving by late morning, are equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and ventilation systems. A second hospital with 1,500 beds is due to open within days.

"The lack of hospital rooms forced sick people to return home, which is extremely dangerous," Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan told CCTV. "So having additional (beds) available is a great improvement.”