Virus: 45 new deaths in China, death toll rises to 304

The death toll from the coronavirus in China has risen to 304 after authorities in Hubei province, the hotbed of the epidemic, announced 45 more deaths on Sunday.

In its daily update, the Health Commission of this central China province also reported 1,921 new confirmed cases of infection in Hubei.

These additional cases bring the total number of confirmed infections across China to more than 14,000, according to official figures.

The virus appeared in December in a market in the city of Wuhan, capital of Hubei, which sold wild animals.

The epidemic then spread beyond Hubei when Chinese citizens traveled across the country and the rest of the world, especially during the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.

China has been increasingly isolated over the past few days, with an increasing number of countries including the United States and Australia having taken drastic measures concerning travelers from China.

The epidemic has now taken on the proportions of a global health emergency with cases reported in more than 20 countries.