The death toll caused by the novel coronavirus emanating from the central Chinese city of Wuhan has surpassed 300, and the confirmed cases have reached over 14,000.

"So far based on the information that I can gather from the public media, or as well as from my former colleagues, this is a fast-moving infection. The best evidence available is that is coming from a bat. Now, whether or not there is an intermediary host, we still need to do more work to find out," said Margaret Chan, former director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), in an exclusive interview with CGTN.

Chan said that the good news is the case fatality rate is not as high as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which broke out across Asia back in 2003. "So I commend China for their very decisive action to bring in a whole [set] of preventive measures to contain and to control the outbreak," added the former WHO official.

WHO has confidence in China

"Surprised" was how Margaret Chan felt when China announced the lockdown of Wuhan, and subsequently the whole Hubei Province, of which Wuhan is the capital, more than a week ago.

"That's the best time, when they did the lockdown," said Chan.

The WHO has recently announced a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on the novel coronavirus outbreak in China.

"Announcing this public health emergency of international concern should not be seen as saying that the WHO has no confidence in China. It's the opposite," said Chan. "They can bring in experts to do research on a vaccine. And vaccine is the best sort of preventive measures, but it will take some time."

Hard to tell when the peak arrives

Margaret Chan did not give a specific date for the peak of the coronavirus outbreak, despite some scholars suggesting that it could arrive around April or May. Chan pointed out that the key at this juncture is "quarantine."

"It heightens surveillance, early detection, alert the authorities and do contact tracing and put the suspected cases or people at risk in isolation and observe them for 14 days," said Chan.

"Social distancing" is the most effective means to contain the spread of the epidemic, according to Chan, as the virus is prone to mutation and some patients do not show any symptoms within 14 days.

Chan said the novel coronavirus and the virus that caused SARS 17 years ago are from the same family.

"But it is different from SARS and it is different from MERS, but we need to learn from history, and how we managed to contain SARS," said Chan. "If you really want to contribute to the containment of this outbreak as an individual in China, work with the government and don't listen to rumors and disinformation."