BEIJING — The proportion of severe and critical cases of the novel coronavirus disease among all confirmed cases has decreased significantly in China, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Feb 16.

In Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, the proportion of severe cases among the confirmed cases fell from a peak of 32.4 percent on Jan 28 to 21.6 percent on Feb 15, said Mi Feng, a spokesperson with the NHC, at a news conference in Beijing.

The proportion in other parts of Hubei province dropped from a peak of 18.4 percent on Jan 27 to 11.1 percent on Feb 15, said Mi.

The percentage in other provinces in China also decreased significantly, falling from a peak of 15.9 percent on Jan 27 to 7.2 percent on Feb 15, Mi added.

"These changes have proven the current epidemic prevention and control measures are effective," said Mi.

The authorities and medics are carrying out differentiated measures on the patients with confirmed or suspected novel coronavirus infection, close contacts of the confirmed cases, and fever patients, the spokesperson said.

"The differentiated measures ensure that a large number of mild cases are treated in time, reducing the possibility of becoming severe cases," said Mi.