Authorities across China will trace people from Wuhan, Hubei province, the epicenter of a novel coronavirus outbreak, and put them under medical observation for 14 days at home, an official from the National Health Commission said on Monday.

Authorities should keep monitoring the health of these people during the two weeks and take proper disease prevention and control measures if abnormalities are found, He Qinghua, an official for disease prevention and control at the commission, said at a news conference, while elaborating on a multidepartmental plan on the novel coronavirus control at a community level.

The incubation period of the virus is up to 14 days, experts said, during which transmission can also occur.

The number of close contacts of pneumonia patients has been increasing sharply with the rising numbers of confirmed and suspected cases across China, He said, adding strict management at a community level should be adopted to prevent the spread of the virus at communities, which are at the front line of the overall disease prevention and control efforts.