WUHAN — The number of cities and counties in central China's Hubei province, the center of the COVID-19 outbreak, classified as high-risk has fallen by almost half compared with three days ago, according to local authorities.

By the end of March 6, 19 cities and counties had been classified as high-risk, with 37 classified as low-risk and 20 classified as mid-risk.

The province had classified its cities and counties based on the risks of the epidemic on March 4. Twenty-two cities and counties had been classified as low-risk, with 17 classified as mid-risk and 37 classified as high-risk, by the end of March 3.

Cities, counties and districts with no newly confirmed cases in the last 14 days are categorized as low-risk regions, those with fewer than 50 cases or those with over 50 but without a concentrated outbreak are classified as mid-risk regions, and those with over 50 cases as well as a concentrated outbreak are classified as high-risk regions.