WUHAN -- The situation in rural areas is increasingly getting better after epidemic control and prevention was implemented effectively in Central China's Hubei province, an official said Sunday.

Officers have gone to about 10.9 million rural families in Hubei to take their temperatures, and 24,300 villages have made proper work in isolation and quarantine during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, Xiao Fuqing, head of the provincial department of agriculture, said at a press conference.

The government implemented closed-off management over rural areas to prevent the COVID-19 transmission, Xiao said.

The situation is increasingly getting better, but there is still risk as work resumes, Xiao said, adding that Hubei will continue to implement prevention and control work in rural areas.

Meanwhile, spring plowing is beginning in an orderly manner in the province, Xiao said.