A radiologist uses a portable X-ray machine to examine a novel coronavirus patient at an isolation ward of Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Data and information on COVID-19 in China released by the Chinese government is transparent and open, and there is no government meddling in data collection, a National Health Commission official said on April 16.

The mortality rate in Wuhan, the city in China hit hardest by the novel coronavirus, now stands at about 5.5 percent, but the definitive rate will not be available until the outbreak ends, said Jiao Yahui, an official responsible for medical administration and supervision.

"The Chinese government has been open and transparent on data and information about COVID-19," she said, adding that the World Health Organization has sent a team of experts to China for field inspections.

In addition, China's figures on COVID-19 infections are reported directly by hospitals to a unified online reporting system, during which government interference is not possible, she said at a media briefing in Wuhan, in response to a question regarding recent controversy on the official figures released by Hubei province and Wuhan.

She said China set up an online reporting system concerning all infectious diseases after the SARS outbreak in 2003. The system requires doctors and hospitals to report patient information of any infectious disease as soon as they have confirmed cases to improve early detection of the disease and provide early warning.

The Chinese mainland reported 46 new confirmed novel coronavirus cases and zero deaths on Wednesday, bringing the two numbers on Thursday to 82,341 and 3,342, respectively, according to the National Health Commission.

As for doubt expressed because the death rate in Wuhan is significantly lower than in some Western countries, Jiao attributed that to strengthened medical treatment and help from all across the country.

She said the Chinese government had taken various measures to lower the death rate in the city, which at early stages of the outbreak was as high as 10 percent.