BEIJING — Around 60 percent of medical services have been resumed in China amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak based on year-on-year comparison, an official told a press briefing on March 20.

It came after the release of a number of documents issued by the National Health Commission since mid-February on resuming normal medical services, as the huge amount of medical personnel and resources the country put into containing COVID-19 did affect normal medical services, said Guo Yanhong, an official with the commission.

According to the documents, regions with low risk of COVID-19 should gradually switch the focus from epidemic control to resuming normal medical services, and regions with high risks should enhance medical services for vulnerable groups and patients in need of close attention while strengthening epidemic control work.

The commission will continue to improve the policy support to guarantee medical resources, instruct medical facilities on their own specific management amid the resumption of medical services, and give more play to the advantages of technologies such as Internet Plus healthcare and telemedicine, Guo said.

Asked about the situation in Wuhan, Hubei province, which was hit hard by the epidemic, Guo said the city has been wasting no time in resuming normal medical services and restoring the normal medical service system, as more and more COVID-19 cases were discharged from hospitals.

Local authorities have prioritized meeting the medical demands for emergent and severe diseases, made efforts to ensure the supply of medical resources for common diseases, and have coordinated medical resources and personnel in terms of the structure of hospitals for people's convenience, she continued.

As of March 19, 43 hospitals in Wuhan had resumed their normal medical services and functions, Guo said, adding that more designated hospitals for COVID-19 will join the list following further disinfection and restoration.