The infection rate and symptoms of COVID-19 among pregnant women and the general population are nearly identical, a Beijing hospital official said on Tuesday.

Qiao Jie, president of Peking University Third Hospital, said pregnant women don't need to be overly concerned about getting infected as very few people develop severe symptoms. Usually a patient can recover in five to seven days for, she said.

Most severe cases are those with underlying diseases, including liver and kidney disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, Qiao said.

Furthermore, soon-to-be mothers who get infected should not worry about transmitting the virus to their unborn children.

"Since the mother has a placenta, which is a good protective barrier, it is unlikely that COVID-19 can be transmitted to the fetus," she said. "After childbirth, breastfeeding is safe, but mothers should still wear masks."