Chinese President Xi Jinping assured his U.S. counterpart that China was doing all it could to contain the virus that has killed almost 640 people.

China was gradually achieving results and was confident it could defeat the epidemic with no long-term economic consequences, Xi told President Donald Trump in a telephone call, according to state television.

State media reported that Xi had earlier declared a "people's war" on the virus, saying China had responded with all its strength and "the most thorough and strict prevention and control measures".