"China has done an excellent job this time in containing this epidemic to their territory, and by doing so, protecting the rest of the world," Dr. Elmer Huerta, director of the Cancer Preventorium at Washington Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, told CGTN.

Dr. Huerta used the world "courage" to describe the actions taken by the Chinese government against the epidemic.

"When you have an epidemic that the virus is causing hundreds and thousands of cases, and then you have to contain that epidemic by shutting down a whole city of 11 million people, that is courage," he said.

The expert said it's important for a public health care system to take resolute actions amid this kind of outbreak.

"What would happen if the virus go out to a country with a very weak public health system? We don't know about that," said Dr. Huerta, adding that on average one COVID-19 patient can spread the infection to 2.6 people.

"What will happen in other countries? We don't know," he said.