China reports 44 new Covid-19 deaths, lowest rise in new cases in over a month
BEIJING — China reported 44 more deaths from the novel coronavirus epidemic on Friday (Feb 28) and 327 fresh cases, the lowest daily figure for new infections in more than a month.
Local residents wear masks as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus as they shop for fruit and vegetables in a busy market in Beijing on Feb 27, 2020.
BEIJING — China reported 44 more deaths from the novel coronavirus epidemic on Friday (Feb 28) and 327 fresh cases, the lowest daily figure for new infections in more than a month.
The death toll now stands at 2,788 in mainland China, according to the National Health Commission.
The number of fatalities — which is up from the 29 reported on Thursday — were all in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, except for two deaths in Beijing.
In total, 78,824 people have now been infected with the COVID-19 strain in the mainland.
Friday's figure was the lowest rise in new cases since Jan 24, when 259 new infections were reported.
The general decline in new infections in China comes as infections in other countries gather pace, with the World Health Organization warning that the coronavirus epidemic was at a "decisive point".
Even China is now worried about importing cases and has ordered people arriving in Beijing from affected countries to go into a 14-day self-quarantine. AFP
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