CHINA today reported 44 more deaths from the Covid-19 epidemic and 327 fresh cases, the lowest daily figure for new infections in more than a month.

The death toll now stands at 2,788 in the mainland, according to the National Health Commission.

The new fatalities – up from the 29 reported yesterday – were all in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, except for two in Beijing.

In total, 78,824 people have been infected by the coronavirus in the mainland.

Today’s figure is the lowest rise in fresh cases since January 24, when 259 new infections were reported.

The general decline in new infections in China comes as cases in other countries gather pace, with the World Health Organisation warning that the epidemic is at a “decisive point”.

Even China is now worried about importing cases, and has ordered people arriving in Beijing from affected countries to go into 14 days of self-quarantine. – AFP, February 28, 2020.