Since the COVID-19 outbreak was officially reported on December 8, 2019, China registered the highest number of infections and deaths compared to the rest of the world - that is until Thursday. In its situation report, the World Health Organization said there are now more new cases reported from other countries - based on cumulative numbers - than from China. 

There are now 81,109 confirmed new cases worldwide. 

China confirmed 78,191 cases in total. Of that only 412 are new. The country also now has a total of 2,718 deaths. Of that, 52 new cases are new cases.

Outside China - from 37 other countries - the number of confirmed cases is 2,918. Of that, 459 are new cases. 

Still, however, Hubei continues to battle difficulties. The province was compelled to delay the majority of people coming back to work until March 11. 

Wuhan continues to register the largest number of confirmed cases - as much as 60% - and the largest number of deaths - as much as 77%. Nationwide, more than 30,000 medical staff have now been deployed to Hubei with 10% assigned to Wuhan. 

Another challenge the country is facing is the growing number of people who showed symptoms of the disease even after recovering and being discharged from the hospitals. For instance, 14% of recovered patients in Guangdong tested positive again after follow-up check-ups. Reports were not immediately clear if these patients can still infect others but it has shown that the outbreak is hard to contain amid this possibility. 

In Beijing, officials have imposed a mandatory quarantine for people coming from other countries with rising cases of infections. Shoppers in local supermarkets are also advised to keep a minimum distance of about 4 feet to 5 feet when shopping. 

In Shandong, Yantai province is giving free nucleic acid tests for the virus for travelers coming overseas. In Weihai, all travelers coming from South Korea and Japan should undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.  

South Korea and Japan, together with Iran and Italy, are among the countries with the highest number of infections outside China. 

South Korea now has more than 1,261 cases, of which 115 are new cases. The republic has reported 12 deaths so far.  

The Philippines became the latest Asian country to ban travel to and from South Korea, specifically travels from Gyeongsang province.  

Meanwhile, Pakistan confirmed its first two cases of infection. 

Here are the number of cases in the Western Pacific Region as of Thursday:

South Korea 1261 (284 new cases)

Japan 164 (7)

Singapore 01 (1)

Australia 23 (1)

Malaysia 22

Vietnam 16

Philippines 3

Cambodia 1

Here are the number of cases in the South-East region:

Thailand 40 (3)

India 3

Nepal 1

Sri Lanka 1