China coronavirus death toll rises to 170; confirmed cases soar to 7,711

nationwide death toll from China's vel coronavirus epidemic has jumped to 170 with 38 more fatalities reported mainly from worst-affected central Hubei province, government said on Thursday, while confirming more than 1,700 new infections.

coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei province, in December and has w spre across globe. Chinese authorities are trying to contain epidemic while or countries, including India, are working on plans to evacuate ir citizens from Wuhan and or cities in Hubei province, epicentre of outbreak.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called coronavirus a "demon" which should be brought under control, pledging that government would be transparent and release information on virus in a "timely" manner.

China's National Health Commission said on Thursday that 7,711 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by vel coronavirus h been reported in 31 provincial-level regions and in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps by end of Wednesday. A total of 170 people have died of disease, it said.

It said in its daily report that 1,370 patients remained in critical conditions, and 12,167 people were suspected of being infected with virus by end of Wednesday. A total of 124 people have been discharged from hospital after recovery.

A total of 1,737 new confirmed cases, including first in Tibet, and 4,148 new suspected cases, and 38 deaths - 37 in Hubei Province and one in Sichuan Province - were reported by Wednesday. Also, 131 patients became seriously ill, and 21 people were discharged from hospital after recovery, it said.

A total of 88,693 close contacts h been traced, commission said, ding that among m, 2,364 were discharged from medical observation on Wednesday, with 81,947 ors still under medical observation, state-run Xinhua news ncy reported.

RE | Coronavirus: US Screens Evacuated Americans From China At Military Base In California

By end of Wednesday, 10 confirmed cases h been reported in Hong Kong Special ministrative Region, seven in Macao Special ministrative Region and eight in Taiwan, commission said.

A number of global airlines, including Air India, British Airways, Lion Air and Indigo airlines on Wednesday suspended ir flights to Chinese cities as Beijing struggled to contain rapid spre of virus.

India, US, UK and Germany have alrey issued travel visories against travelling to China. Beijing too has been asking Chinese t to travel at home and abro in view of virus.

Air India suspended its flights on Delhi-Shanghai route from January 31 to February 14. IndiGo airlines also suspended its flights on Bengaluru-Hong Kong route from February 1 and on Delhi-Chengdu route from February 1 to 20.

Besides India, several or countries including US, France, Japan, South Korea, are making arrangements to airlift ir nationals from central Hubei province and its capital city Wuhan. Over 23,000 Indian students of which 21,000 are medical students are studying in China.

China has ramped up efforts to contain virus. country has extended New Year Festival holidays till February 2 to prevent reverse migration of millions of migrants works to return to ir work from holidays. Universities, primary and middle schools and kindergartens across country will postpone opening of spring semester until furr tice.

government is focussing efforts to prevent mass garings and mass travel to ensure virus is t spre fast.

Beijing has also launched temperature detection at 55 subway stations, including stops at railway stations and Beijing airport. Passengers with abrmal body temperatures will be sent to hospital. 

RE | Coronavirus: Special Ward Opened In Murai Govt Hospital

RE | Man Who Returned From China Tested Negative For Coronavirus