BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The average time from the onset of symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to diagnosis was 4.95 days in China, said a health official on Monday.

"We have shortened the diagnosis time in order to make early and timely treatment, which is an effective way to improve the recovery rate," said Guo Yanhong with the National Health Commission (NHC) at a daily press conference on the epidemic in Beijing.

Data from the NHC shows that a total of 10,844 COVID-19 patients had been discharged from hospitals after recovery by the end of Sunday.

The daily new confirmed cases outside Hubei, the epicenter province in the outbreak, have also dropped for 13 consecutive days.

These figures showed that the current prevention and control work has achieved good results, said Guo.