THE number of total infections in China’s coronavirus outbreak has passed 20,400 nationwide with 3,235 new cases confirmed, the National Health Commission said today.

In its daily update, the agency said there are 64 new deaths from the virus – all in the hardest-hit Hubei province, bringing the national toll to 425.

The epidemic, which has spiralled into a global health emergency, is believed to have emerged in December from a market selling wild game in the Hubei provincial capital of Wuhan.

The country’s top leadership has admitted to “shortcomings and difficulties” in its response to the viral outbreak, with state media saying a new hospital built at breakneck pace has begun receiving patients in the epicentre of the crisis.

Today’s death toll exceeds the 349 mainland fatalities from the SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, outbreak of 2002-03, which eventually killed nearly 800.

The new virus has spread to more than 20 countries, and several nations have instituted tough travel rules.

A global health emergency has been declared by the World Health Organisation, and the first death outside China was confirmed in the Philippines on Sunday. – AFP, February 4, 2020.