China reports 7,711 confirmed coronavirus cases, 170 deaths

• A total of 1,370 patients are in critical conditions, and 170 people have died of the disease.
• A total of 88,693 people with close contacts with patients were traced. Among them, 2,364 were relieved from medical observation on Wednesday.
• There are ten cases in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, seven in the Macao Special Administrative Region and eight in Taiwan: NHC official.

(Beijing) The confirmed pneumonia cases caused by the novel coronavirus totaled 7,711 in the Chinese mainland by the end of Wednesday, according to the National Health Commission (NHC) on Thursday.

Mi Feng, spokesman of the NHC, briefed the press on the latest data on the disease.

"As of 24:00 on Jan 29, the NHC received 7,711 reports of confirmed cases from 31 provincial-level regions. A total of 1,370 patients are in critical conditions, and 170 people have died of the disease. 124 people have been discharged from hospital after recovery. Currently there are 12,167 suspected cases. A total of 88,693 people with close contacts with patients were traced. Among them, 2,364 were relieved from medical observation on Wednesday. There are 81,947 people still under medical observation now. We have received reports of 25 confirmed cases in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. There are ten cases in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, seven in the Macao Special Administrative Region and eight in Taiwan," said Mi.

According to Mi, the NHC is working with other government departments to alleviate the shortage of medical supplies in frontline hospitals.

"In order to deal with the demands for medical protective equipment in medical institutions across the country, especially in Hubei Province, and the lack of negative-pressure wards and ambulances in all provinces, the NHC has collaborated with National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments to to study the support plans based on the demands and urgency,” Mi added.

He said, “So far, the protective equipment for frontline medical staff is still in acute shortage. Luckily, the situation is getting better as the production capacity is coming back and imported goods are arriving. Over the days, people in all walks of the society are also making donations to the medical institutions and medical staff working at the frontline, we are very appreciated."

As central China city of Wuhan in Hubei Province is the region most affected by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, many places required the drivers who transport goods to the province, especially to Wuhan City, to take a 14-day medical observation in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Mi said that in order to secure the transportation of medical supplies, the NHC collaborates with the Ministry of Transportation to optimize the management on the observation time of the drivers.

"Regarding the observation time of drivers who transport supplies to Hubei Province and Wuhan City, the NHC has consulted with the Ministry of Transportation and made the following decision. According to the current requirement of fighting the epidemic, drivers who send goods to Hubei under necessary precautions, and return with no symptom of fever or cough, are in no need to be kept in medical observation. But if they show any symptom of fever or cough, they must seek medical care immediately, and take necessary measures including observation and isolation according to the condition," Mi maintained.