Isolation and quarantine measures should be prioritized once COVID-19 cases are detected and this will greatly assist in the battle against the contagion, said a prominent Chinese expert in respiratory diseases.

"Early detection of people infected with the novel coronavirus, then isolating them would be an effective way to prevent the disease from spreading," said Zhong Nanshan, who is also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Zhong was answering questions on Wednesday from a group of 19 foreigners who live in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province.

Sharing China's experience of prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhong said medical checkups also played an important role in prevention and control of the disease.