A timeline of China's response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was released on Monday by Xinhua News Agency.

Based on media reports and information from the National Health Commission (NHC), scientific research institutions and other departments, the timeline offers a glimpse of China's efforts in releasing information, sharing epidemic prevention and control experience, and advancing international exchanges and cooperation.

The major events from late December 2019 to March 2020 were recorded. 

Viruses know no borders and they don't care about your ethnicity. The COVID-19 epidemic is a major public health emergency that has spread the fastest, caused the most extensive infections and been the hardest to contain since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the document said.

With the joint efforts of the whole nation, the positive trend in preventing and controlling the epidemic in China has been constantly consolidated and expanded, and the restoration of normal production and daily life has been quickened, according to the timeline.

The timeline noted a "formidable challenge" to global public health security as the pandemic has recently been spreading rapidly in the world.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 has affected more than 200 countries and regions with over 1.13 million confirmed cases by Sunday.

Here are the highlights from the timeline:

By the end of March, the Chinese government has sent medical supplies, including surgical masks, N95 masks, protective equipment, test kits, ventilators to 120 countries and four international organizations. Chinese enterprises have donated medical supplies to more than 100 countries and international organizations.

(With input from Xinhua.)