WUHAN - Hospitals designated for novel coronavirus patients in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, will all return to normal operation by the end of March, as the number of patients continues to drop, local authorities announced at a press conference Thursday.

Those hospitals will be thoroughly disinfected after their missions of treating COVID-19 patients are completed, and will start taking regular patients gradually, according to Bai Xiangjun, an official with the epidemic prevention and control headquarters of the city.

All of its 16 public facility-turned temporary hospitals closed earlier this month.

"More than two-thirds of the COVID-19 patients in Wuhan have been cured and discharged from hospital so far," said Hu Shuguang, deputy head of the epidemic prevention and control headquarters.

The city is able to conduct up to 20,000 nucleic acid tests every day, with results known in only four to five hours, which has won precious time for epidemic prevention and treatment, said Hu.

Although the situation is looking optimistic right now, there are still 4,000 patients in serious or critical conditions in the city. The epidemic control works are still the most important task at the moment, Hu added.