Media reports say the Wuhan coronavirus has killed 910 people globally, the vast majority in mainland China, and infected more than 40,000 people.
Chinese authorities confirmed on February 9 that the virus is now a bigger killer than the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003.
Meanwhile, CNN reports that Sunday was the deadliest yet for the coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan in Hubei province and has continued to spread rapidly across the country and around the world.
The coronavirus reportedly claimed 97 more lives Sunday in China, bringing the global death toll to at least 910.
Only two of the 910 deaths reported have been outside mainland China — one each in Hong Kong and the Philippines. Most of the deaths — 871– have been in Hubei province.
China's National Health Commission (NHC) says the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in mainland China rose by 3,062 to 40,171 infections, said. Globally, more than 40,710 cases have been confirmed.
Several other countries announced new infections over the weekend, including Thailand, France and Singapore, which now has 40 cases of the virus.
The NHC announced at a news conference on Saturday that it had chosen a temporary official name for the virus — Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia, or NCP.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on February 8 that it would be sending a team to China, beginning from Monday or Tuesday, to investigate the coronavirus outbreak.
As the virus continues to spread, Wuhan announced Saturday its second rapidly constructed new hospital was ready to welcome patients. Citing Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, CNN says that built from scratch to hold victims of the coronavirus, in total the Leishenshan hospital can hold up to 1,500 patients and will have 32 wards. CCTV said that the first team of medical staff had arrived at the hospital on Saturday.
As the epidemic continues, cruise liners have become a major battleground in attempting to halt the spread of the virus, according to CNN. Three cruise ships are still either under quarantine or have passengers being investigated for the coronavirus. The Diamond Princess is reportedly still under quarantine off the coast of Yokohama, Japan, after at least 70 passengers tested positive for the coronavirus.
