BEIJING — China's daily new confirmed and suspected cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have seen an overall downward trend for two weeks, said a health official.

The number of newly discharged patients nationwide continues to show an upward trend, fluctuating around 3,000 in recent days, Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission, said at a press conference on March 2. 

Mi said that the rapid rise of the epidemic in Wuhan has been contained, with the local outbreaks in Hubei outside Wuhan brought under control. He added that the epidemic situation outside Hubei has shown positive signs.

Next, precise prevention and control measures will be implemented, with a focus on community prevention and control and medical treatment, to further improve the epidemic prevention work and coordinate it with economic and social development, he said.