Other novel coronavirus-hit areas in central China's Hubei Province should adopt the same epidemic prevention and control measures as the provincial capital city of Wuhan, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Wednesday evening.

Hubei Province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, reported 14,840 new cases (including 13,332 clinical cases diagnosed via CT scan) of infection on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 48,206 in the province.

The NHC emphasized three main measures in the ongoing efforts to control the novel coronavirus pneumonia. Other places in China, especially those densely populated provinces and cities, need to monitor the health of returnees. Epidemic prevention needs to be implemented in different regions, but Hubei Province is still a nationwide priority, the national health authorities stressed.

Secondly, all-out efforts need to be made to save infected patients, raise the recovery rate and reduce the fatality rate. Severe cases need to be transferred to the designated hospitals to avoid further infections.  

Thirdly, attention should be paid to the overall situation of economic and social development. It's important to prevent and control the novel coronavirus at present, and try to restore the economic and social order in the long term.