Zhang added that some foreign countries could follow Shanghai's approach to controlling the spread of the virus. He noted that Shanghai, one of China's largest cities with a population of nearly 25 million residents, only has 337 confirmed infection cases so far – much lower than what some foreign scholars have predicted. In addition, all the infected patients in the city have been identified.

He pointed out that the municipality has done an "excellent job" in preventing the spread of the virus by mandating that those who have returned from regions severely affected by the virus to isolate themselves at home for 14 days. Shanghai authorities have also been swift in prohibiting public gatherings and shutting down scenic spots and public venues.

"We've witnessed epidemic outbreaks in some foreign countries where public gatherings are not suspended. Such an outbreak is closely related to the fact that the operations of a city or country are going on as usual," he said.

The establishment of a hospital system that can quickly identify suspected patients has also proved pivotal in Shanghai's fight against the epidemic, Zhang said. He explained that this system involves having designated fever clinics for those who suffer from typical symptoms such as fever or difficulty in breathing, and quarantining sick individuals and those they have come in close contact with for 14 days.

"Early prevention and containment of the spread of the disease has contributed to a desirable prognosis for the patients. The ratio of patients who have recovered and been discharged from hospitals in Shanghai has exceeded 80 percent and the mortality rate is less than 1 percent," he said.