The number of new nCoV infections in China today increased slightly compared to yesterday, with 24 cases, of which 10 cases were originated from abroad.

The National Health Commission of China (NHC) today recorded 24 new cases across the country and 22 deaths, respectively yesterday and 19 respectively. The total number of Covid-19 infections in China 81,000 people, of which 3,158 died.

A slight increase in new cases compared to the previous day raises concerns that an increase in foreigners entering China could affect the containment process. 10 of the new cases come from abroad, mostly from Italy, the country considered the hardest hit by Covid-19 outside China, bringing the total number of foreign-origin infections in mainland China to 79 .

Six of the new infections in Beijing, where 14 days of isolation are being carried out for people from high-risk countries, include Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan.

New cases in Wuhan, Hubei province, where the Covid-19 outbreak started, are significantly reduced, with only 13 new cases today. Chinese President Xi Jinping last morning made his first visit to Wuhan since Covid-19 broke out in December 2019, to "check the prevention of disease". Xi's visit is a sign that Chinese leaders believe that a series of draconian restrictions, including the blockade of hundreds of millions of people, controlled Covid-19.

The Hubei government yesterday also considered easing the blockade of Hubei after the province reported no new cases outside Wuhan for several consecutive days. Healthy people will be allowed to move freely around certain areas of the province.

Covid-19 has appeared in 119 countries and territories, causing more than 119,000 people to be infected, more than 4,200 people died and more than 66,000 people recovered.