According to the NHC, 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported 427 new cases of confirmed infections, 248 new cases of suspected infections, and 47 deaths (45 in Hubei province, 1 in Beijing municipality, and 1 in Henan province). 2,885 patients were released from hospital after being cured. 10,193 people who had had close contact with infected patients were freed from medical observation. Serious cases decreased by 288.

In all 39,002 patients have been cured and discharged from hospital. There still remained 37,414 confirmed cases, including 7,664 in serious condition and 1,418 suspected cases. So far, 658,587 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients. 58,233 are now under medical observation.

The virus was first detected in Wuhan city, Central China, in December 2019. It is believed to have originated from wild animals, passing to humans due to the wildlife trade and wet markets. The virus spread to other China provinces in early and mid-January 2020, helped by the Chinese new year migration.

The virus is continuing to spread rapidly outside China, with 67 deaths in 49 countries.

The first death outside China occurred in the Philippines, when a 44-year-old Chinese male citizen developed severe pneumonia and died on 1 February. His companion, a 38-year-old Chinese female citizen was also confirmed to have contracted the virus, but eventually recovered. She stayed in the same hospital in Manila as her companion until her discharge on 8 February. On February 8, it was announced that a Japanese and an American died from the virus in Wuhan. They were the first non-Chinese killed by the virus.

The first death outside Asia was confirmed in Paris, France, on February 15, when an 80-year-old Chinese tourist from Hubei died after being in hospital since 25 January. On February 19, two elderly Japanese citizens who had been on the Diamond Princess died after being hospitalized for a week after they had tested positive for the virus, while a third elderly Japanese citizen died on February 23.

A 78-year-old Italian man in Veneto died on February 21, while on the following day a 75-year-old woman died in Lombardy. An Italian woman died on February 23 in Lombardy.

In South Korea, the outbreak has claimed the lives of 16 people with 2,913 confirmed cases.

Iranian officials confirmed the 34 coronavirus related deaths among 388 confirmed cases in the country.

France has now had 57 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

WHO declared the new coronavirus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 31. (ILKHA)