Coronavirus: one-day record of infections and deaths
The number of cases in China now stands at 24,363 with 491 deaths, 74 per cent in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei and epicentre of the epidemic. Here the infection-related death rate is 4.9 per cent against 2.1 per cent nation-wide. The Communist Party acknowledges “shortcomings and deficiencies" in responding to the outbreak.
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Health authorities in China have confirmed 24,363 infections, including more than 3,800 new infections on Tuesday, the highest one-day increase since the outbreak began.
The death toll also saw its highest one-day rise with 66 new deaths, bringing the total to 491.
In mainland China, the number of suspected cases rose to 23,260, but 892 patients have recovered from the virus.
Hong Kong reported 18 new cases, with only one death, whilst Macau reported 10 other infections.
Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said yesterday that the government of the former Portuguese colony will suspend gambling and entertainment activities for two weeks after he consulted Zhong Nanshan, China’s leading respiratory expert who led the fight against SARS in 2003.
As of Tuesday, 74 per cent of all deaths caused by the virus in China were in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak.
The city, which has been under quarantine since 23 January, has a 4.9 per cent death rate, this according to Jiao Yahui, an official with the National Health Commission.
Hubei province accounted for 97 per cent of the national death toll with a death rate of 3.1 per cent. Nationwide, the death rate is 2.1 per cent. Excluding Hubei, it drops to 0.16 per cent
Meanwhile, the Chinese government has admitted "shortcomings and deficiencies" in its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Politburo Standing Committee made the rare admission yesterday, calling for improvements to the country’s emergency management system.
The Communist Party also ordered a "severe" crackdown on illegal wildlife markets. Experts believe that the virus emerged in one such places in Wuhan.
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