Beijing, Feb 16 (IANS): The proportion of severe and critical cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease among all confirmed cases has decreased significantly in China, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Sunday.

In Wuhan, the epicentre of the epidemic, the proportion of severe cases among the confirmed cases fell from a peak of 32.4 per cent on January 28 to 21.6 per cent on February 15, said Mi Feng, a spokesperson with the NHC, at a press conference in Beijing.

The proportion in other parts of Hubei Province dropped from a peak of 18.4 per cent on January 27 to 11.1 per cent on February 15, said Feng.

The percentage in other provinces in China also decreased significantly, falling from a peak of 15.9 per cent on January 27 to 7.2 per cent on February 15, Feng added.

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

The authorities and medics are carrying out differentiated measures on the patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, close contacts of the confirmed cases, and fever patients, he added.

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