A total of 444 cases of new coronavirus-related pneumonia and 17 deaths were on Wednesday reported in central China’s Hubei Province, according to local authorities.
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The Deputy Governor of the province, Yang Yunyan, said at a local press conference that among the confirmed cases, 399 patients were receiving treatment in hospitals, with 71 in severe condition and 24 in critical condition.
A total of 2,556 close contacts had been placed under medical observation, with 863 people released.
“The Hubei provincial government has activated a Level II public health emergency response, the second-highest in the country.
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“The Headquarters headed by Mayor Zhou Xianwang, has also been established in the provincial capital of Wuhan for the control and treatment of pneumonia,“ Yunyan said.