It also required provincial governments to appoint qualified hospitals to admit H1N1 flu patients and use hotels or schools to take in patients if hospitals are full.

At a video-phone conference on swine flu prevention Thursday, Vice Premier Li Keqiang also stressed the implementation of preventive measures.

Li called for strict control of outbreaks in communities, improved treatment for patients with heavy symptoms, and enhanced prevention at major venues and events, including the National Day celebrations on Oct 1.

Researchers should closely track the changes in the epidemic, both in and outside China, to make scientific judgment for the prevention work, Li said.

By Wednesday, China had reported 6,457 cases of swine flu. About 64 percent of the patients had recovered and no death had been reported.