Long lines have formed outside fever clinics across China, as the coronavirus spreads rapidly after the government relaxed its containment measures earlier this month.

On Monday, a number of people wearing masks were seen outside a fever clinic and a PCR testing site at a hospital in central Shanghai.

Local media reported that for days the clinic has been flooded with outpatients, some of whom were said to have waited hours before seeing doctors.

Authorities in Shanghai said they set up fever clinics at about 2,600 medical institutions across the city and launched an around-the-clock telephone consultation line.

And Beijing authorities said on Monday that they increased the number of fever clinics in the city from 94 to 1,263.

The city of Guangzhou has called nearly 1,000 retired medical professionals back into service.