New coronavirus cases outside Hubei in single-digit growth trend

Regions on the Chinese mainland outside Hubei province, the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak, have recorded single-digit growth in daily new infections for seven straight days, as the latest daily data update shows. 

According to the National Health Commission, 139 newly confirmed cases were reported over the course of Wednesday, bringing the total to date up to 80,409 on the Chinese mainland. 

With 31 additional deaths, a total of 3,012 people have died of the pathogen, according to data released by the commission on Thursday morning. 

The bulk of new infections were reported from Hubei, and only five cases were added from elsewhere. All the new fatalities on the Chinese mainland occurred in the province. 

It also said 2,189 people were discharged from hospitals over the course of Wednesday, bringing the total on the Chinese mainland up to 52,045. 

With a reduction of 464 patients exhibiting serious symptoms over the course of Wednesday, the number of such patients now stands at 5,952. To date, 25,352 patients are still hospitalized. 

There are now 522 suspected infections on the Chinese mainland, and 143 of them were registered on Wednesday. 

Among the 669,025 people who have so far been traced for their close contact with infected patients, 32,870 are still under medical observation, it said. 

In Hubei, 134 cases were counted over the course of Wednesday for a total of 67,466, the commission said. 

To date, 2,902 people in the province have died of the virus as of Wednesday midnight and 31 of them succumbed to it on the day, it said. 

The Hubei provincial capital of Wuhan remains as the city with the majority of the newly confirmed cases and new fatalities. 

The city registered 131 additional infections on Wednesday, bringing up confirmed cases to date in the city to 49,671. With 23 new deaths, a total of 2,305 people in the provincial capital have died of the virus. 

With another two imported cases from overseas, a total of 20 such cases have been counted as of Wednesday midnight.