Hubei province of China, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, reported 115 new deaths by the end of Thursday, bringing the total of fatalities to at least 2,233. The province reported 411 new cases of infection.
By Friday morning, Hubei reported an additional 220 cases after including in the accounting cases inside its prison system. Reports were not immediately clear whether the number also includes new cases outside the prison system. If this is the case, new cases should total 631.
In total Hubei has 62,662 cases of COVID-19 infection. Nationwide, China now has 74,987.
The unpredictable rise and decline in the number of cases and deaths in the country will not dampen the spirits of people. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is confident of winning the fight against the outbreak. He noted the regularity of reduced cases reported daily for the past 13 days compared in January.
China's consulate general in Karachi, Pakistan, Li Bijian, is expecting that the outbreak ends by the end of March. He said he believed the peak has already arrived so a reversal is imminent.
Pakistan is facing protests among parents of students who were trapped in China. The parents are calling the government to evacuate their children. The government refused to do so for fear of spreading in the country.
China agreed with the Pakistani government, saying the more than 1,000 students in Hubei province might bring the virus inside the country given that it does not have facilities capable of containing the virus.
Inside Hubei, authorities are implementing tougher measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. People are barred from leaving their apartments. Vehicles are also banned from the roads unless for pressing concerns. On any given day, authorities wearing protective suits are going door-to-door to check families for possible infections.
Meanwhile, a study conducted by S&P Global found that the COVID-19 outbreak will only bring short-term but knock-on impacts on different market sectors in China.
For instance, the restaurant sector will drop by about 45% to 55% significantly for the first quarter. Tourism revenue will feel the pinch of about 16% since the outbreak affected travel during the Lunar New Year.
Here are the confirmed cases and deaths per provinces as of February 20:
Hubei
(confirmed cases) 62031
(deaths) 2029
Guangdong
1332
5
Zhejiang
1175
0
Hunan
1010
4
Anhui
987
6
Jiangxi
934
1
Jiangsu
631
0
Chongqing
560
5
Shandong
546
4
Sichuan
520
3
Heilongjiang
476
12
Beijing
395
4
Shanghai
333
2
Hebei
307
5
Fujian
293
1
Guangxi
245
2
Shaanxi
245
1
Yunnan
172
1
Hainan
168
4
Guizhou
146
2
Shanxi
131
0
Tianjin
130
3
Liaoning
121
1
Gansu
91
1
Jilin
91
2
Xinjiang
76
1
Inner Mongolia
75
0
Ningxia
71
0
Hong Kong SAR
65
2
Taipei and environs
24
1
Qinghai
18
0
Macao SAR
10
0
Xizang
1
0
