A worker checks the body temperature of a passenger at Jianguomen subway station in Beijing, Jan 28, 2020. [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily]

Q3. Are the changes in the novel coronavirus the reason of the increase in infected children?

A: The increase in child cases might be related to the various chances of human exposure. People at different ages are all susceptible to the new respiratory pathogen. But the chance of exposure may vary due to different ages, and so does the incidence.

It's observed that the symptoms of the pneumonia disease seem to be less severe in a child than that of an adult. No critical conditions have been reported in child cases.

Q4. Is there another outbreak period of the novel coronavirus in the future? When can the epidemic be basically controlled?

A: It is indeed very difficult to predict the epidemic trend at present. With multiple measures having been taken, we will effectively control the spread of the coronavirus. But we can't have high hopes it will be done in a week.

We must continue to strengthen the prevention and control measures and step up the diagnosis and treatment efforts in areas of severe infections, as well as enhance the detection of infected cases in other places. We will also trace people with close contact with patients and put them in medical observation. The epidemic will be brought under control as long as all the measures can be put in place.