Coronavirus death toll in China rises to 259; Wuhan quarantine continues

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

The total number of deaths from a coronavirus epidemic in China had reached 259 by the end of Friday, an increase of 46, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing numbers from the country's National Health Commission.

There were 2,102 new confirmed infections in China during the day, bringing the cumulative total to 11,791. The local health commission of Hubei province, the epicentre of the epidemic, earlier on Saturday reported 45 new deaths from the outbreak on Friday.

The province has confirmed 1,347 new cases of infection on Friday, with the total reaching 7,153 by the end of the day.

Hubei's provincial