SHAH ALAM, Jan 31 — The number of deaths from the new coronavirus infections in China has reached 213, while confirmed infections near 10,000, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported today.
Following the increased number of cases, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had called the outbreak a global health emergency as the virus represents a risk outside of China, where it emerged last month.
Countries, including Malaysia, have taken precautionary measures to contain the infection by closing their borders, cancelling flights, and screening people arriving at entry points as several cases have been reported in people who had not recently travelled to China.
According to reported data from WHO, 98 cases have been confirmed in 18 other countries, while in China alone, 1,982 new cases were confirmed on the mainland on Thursday, bringing the country’s total to 9,692.
As of Thursday, SCMP reported that China’s Hubei province had reported 5,806 confirmed cases, with 32,340 people still under observation for infection.
“A total of 804 patients were in severe condition and 290 in critical condition,” the report stated.
“As the Chinese government scrambles to contain the outbreak, the contagion has spread to all 31 of mainland China’s provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, and at least 19 other countries or territories.
“Beijing has sent more than 7,000 medical workers to Hubei to help fight the disease,” SCMP reported.
