Number of new novel coronavirus cases continues to climb

Confirmed and suspected infections of the novel coronavirus continued to climb on Saturday, with most of the increases recorded in Central China's Hubei province, the center of the virus outbreak, according to the National Health Commission.

On the Chinese mainland, the number of confirmed cases climbed to 14,380 as of Saturday at midnight, including 304 deaths, data released by the commission on Sunday morning showed.

Hubei province reported 1,921 new cases and 45 new deaths, it said.

There were also 4,562 new suspected cases reported on Saturday, including 2,606 in Hubei, increasing the total suspected infections on the Chinese mainland to 19,544.

While a total of 2,110 patients remain in serious condition, 328 people have been released from hospitals after being cured, the commission said.

A total of 137,594 people that have had close contact with infected patients are still under medical observation, while 8,044 such people were released from observation on Saturday.

According to the Hubei health commission, the total number of confirmed cases and deaths in the province has reached 9,074 and 294, respectively.

The provincial commission also said a total of 8,565 people sickened by the virus in the province are still hospitalized. Among them, 1,118 people have serious symptoms and 444 are in critical condition.

Among the 48,571 people that have had close contact with infected patients, 43,121 are still under medical observation in the province, it added.