Authorities in a southwestern Chinese city have launched free taxi service to aid the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Starting Thursday, 1,000 taxies have been arranged to ferry frontline medical workers and police officers without charging fees in Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province, said the municipal transport authorities.

Medical workers and police officers can also place orders through telephone hotlines two hours ahead of their scheduled trips.

To reduce potential infection, drivers need to undergo temperature checks and wear face masks, and their cabs should be carefully disinfected before a day's journey.