The new coronavirus epidemic is at a "decisive point" globally, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday, urging affected countries to "move swiftly" to contain the disease. 

"We're at a decisive point," Tedros said, adding, "if you act aggressively now, you can contain this virus, you can prevent people getting sick, you can save lives".

The chief also reiterated that the COVID-19 can be contained with right measures. 

In China's Guangdong, scientists tested more than 320,000 samples from the community and only 0.14 percent were positive for COVID19, which suggests that containment is possible, Tedros added.  

He has also called on every country to be ready to detect COVID-19 cases early, isolate patients, trace contacts, provide quality clinical care and prevent hospital outbreaks and community transmission.