Coronavirus: China's death toll touches 1,355, total infection cases soar beyond 60,000

The death toll due to the coronavirus outbreak in China has reached at least 1,355 as the number of fatalities in Hubei — the Chinese province at the centre of the epidemic — more than doubled to 242. The province also reported 14,840 new cases as it revised the method for counting infections. This brings the total number of cases in China to 60,016. 

READ | COVID-19: Here's How The World Is Gearing Up For Coronavirus Response

Hubei province said it carried out a review of past suspected cases, and revised its data to include “clinically diagnosed" cases in its daily disclosure. Of the 16,067 new cases, 13,332 are from the new category, while of the 242 new deaths, 135 are from the new category. Wednesday's report marked the highest infection and death count in a single day since the outbreak began.

READ | Coronavirus: Saudi National Suspected To Be Infected Flees From Hospital In Nepal

China's struggle continues

The outbreak first took place in Wuhan in January after which multiple countries started evacuating their citizens from the country, and have decided to restrict the entry of foreigners returning from China. The virus was officially also named 'COVID-19' at a conference in Geneva held by the World Health Organisation, where the body's chief said that countries had a chance of stopping its global spread. Earlier this month, WHO also declared Coronavirus as a 'global public health emergency'. 

READ | Coronavirus Can Infect 60% Of Global Population If Unchecked, Claims Hong Kong Researcher

READ | China: Cat Gets Makeshift Face Mask With Eye Holes Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

(with inputs from agencies)

(Photo: AP)