BEIJING — China should stick to strict measures on epidemic prevention and control as the country resumes work and production and the flow of people increases, a health official warned on March 25.

China shall continue implementing the measures of early detection, reporting, quarantine and medical treatment, said Mi Feng with the National Health Commission at a news conference.

"We must take strict measures to prevent imported COVID-19 cases from abroad and a rebound of the epidemic domestically," Mi stressed.

The virus-hit Hubei province lifted outbound travel restrictions in all areas except the capital city Wuhan on March 25, he said.

The commission received reports of 47 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on March 24, all of which were imported.

By the end of March 24, a total of 474 imported cases had been reported.