China's Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission has formed an investigation team to conduct a comprehensive probe into the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia in Rencheng Prison in Shandong Province.

The prison system will resolutely implement its management system, make an effort to treat all patients and resolutely prevent the spread of the epidemic, according to the Bureau of Prison Administration of the Ministry of Justice.

Infection cases of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, have been reported in prisons in Hubei, Shandong and Zhejiang Provinces in China, and several officials have been removed from their posts for dereliction of duty, according to authorities on Friday.

Among them, Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, reported 271 imported cases. 230 cases were at the Wuhan Women's Prison, while Hanjin Prison in Shayang County recorded 41 cases. Two prison officials were removed.

On the same day, the Shandong provincial government also reported 207 cases of infection, including seven prison officers, in Rencheng Prison in the city of Jining.

According to local government, a prison officer in Rencheng Prison was isolated in hospital after showing the symptom of a cough on February 12. He was diagnosed of novel coronavirus pneumonia after nucleic acid testing the next day.

The local authorities have completed nucleic acid tests of all relevant personnel in the prison. At present, isolation and treatment measures have been taken for all confirmed patients.

The provincial government immediately started health screening and isolation work.

A total of 34 cases have also been reported at Shilifeng Prison in Zhejiang Province, said local authorities, adding that these were imported cases and two prison officials have been removed from their posts.