China reports 1,737 more confirmed cases of novel coronavirus

Chinese health authorities announced on Thursday that 1,737 new confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) were reported in 31 provincial-level regions by the end of Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 7,711. The National Health Commission said in its daily report that a total of 170 people died of the disease and 12,167 people were suspected of being infected with the virus.

The commission also said 1,370 patients were in critical condition, with 131 patients becoming seriously ill on Wednesday. A total of 124 people had been discharged from hospital after recovery, with 21 being discharged on Wednesday, it said.

A total of 88,693 close contacts had been traced, the commission said, adding that among them, 2,364 were discharged from medical observation on Wednesday, with 81,947 others being still under medical observation. By the end of Wednesday, 10 confirmed cases had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, seven in the Macao Special Administrative Region, and eight in Taiwan.