BEIJING — Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was widely applied and has proved to be effective in the prevention, treatment and recovery of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients on the Chinese mainland, said a TCM official on March 17.

About 96.37 percent of the COVID-19 patients outside Hubei, the hardest-hit province, and 91.05 percent in Hubei have received TCM treatment, said Li Yu, an official with the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, at a press conference.

In the national diagnosis and treatment plan issued by the authorities, all TCM prescriptions have shown very good clinical effects, said Li.

Nearly 5,000 TCM medics went to Wuhan, Hubei's capital city and the epicenter of the outbreak, to join the battle against the virus, said Li.

According to Li, among the 1,261 patients in 10 provinces and cities who were given a TCM prescription, no one developed from mild cases to severe cases.

In the makeshift hospital which was fully supported by TCM doctors and medical workers, all 564 patients were considered mild or ordinary cases and no one became a severe case, said Li.

When treating severe cases, TCM treatment helps in reducing fever, improving oxygen levels and relieving pulmonary fibrosis, Li added.

"We are very happy and willing to share our experience with the world," said Li, in response to reports that Chinese medics dispatched to Italy have brought drugs made by TCM recipes to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

TCM is very important in treating patients here in China and many TCM drugs are included in the national diagnosis and treatment plan, Li said.

China would love to have TCM play a bigger role globally and help people around the world to battle the epidemic, Li stressed.