The rapid increase in the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Singapore and Iran over the past few days, which has tripled the overall number of infections outside of China, should serve to sound the alarm that the window to control the epidemic that has been hard-earned by China is closing.

Although some anti-epidemic measures have been put in place in these countries, such as canceling large gatherings, most of the measures are belated and lack conviction.

The risks are building up as the virus, which has a long incubation period and is highly contagious, is trying to break through the world's epidemic prevention system at multiple points simultaneously.

The drastically different situation between the rest of China and Hubei province shows how contact tracing for early detection, quarantine and treatment are essential to curb the spread of the virus.

Hubei accounts for 96 percent of the infections in China and nearly 99 percent of the deaths. Outside the province the number of new infections each day has dropped for nearly 20 days in a row to below 20 on Monday.

Were it not for China's remarkable ability to mobilize national resources to back Hubei's fight against the epidemic, the situation in the province, particularly its capital Wuhan, which is the epicenter of the epidemic, would have been unimaginably worse than it already is.

Few countries can send more than 40,000 medical professionals to a city and build two large-scale hospitals, and dozens of isolation hospitals there in a short time; even fewer can bring the whole country into a state of virtual standstill for a month to cut the transmission of the virus.

But countries should pay attention to what China has done and is doing, and be aware of the price that might have to be paid if they do not act resolutely and in a timely manner.

Countries should not be fooled by the virus' low death rate compared with some other recent epidemics, as that has been attained at extraordinary expense.

They should be aware that the death rate is about two times higher in Hubei and even higher in Wuhan, where almost all national efforts and resources are being concentrated.

President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the epidemic is the most serious public health emergency in the country since the founding of the People's Republic of China and also the one that is the most difficult to contain.

Which should serve to prompt the international community, whose efforts remain largely divided, to raise their awareness of how serious the situation is.

The fleeting opportunity to put the virus under control is being squandered because some countries are dragging their feet in closing ranks behind China as it continues to lead the fight against this "grim and complex" threat to public health.