WUHAN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Central China's Hubei Province, the center of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has classified its cities and counties based on the risks of the epidemic, according to local authorities.

Twenty-two cities and counties had been classified as low-risk, while 17 classified as mid-risk and 37 classified as high-risk, by the end of Tuesday.

Cities, counties and districts with no newly confirmed cases in the last 14 days are categorized as low-risk regions, those with less than 50 cases or those with over 50 but without cluster outbreak are classified as mid-risk regions and those with over 50 cases as well as cluster outbreak are classified as high-risk regions.