The death toll from a coronavirus epidemic in China had reached 304 as of the end of Saturday, up by 45 from the previous day, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on Sunday, citing the country's National Health Commission.
People wearing protective facemasks leave the city commuter train station in Bangkok amid concerns about coronavirus. Photo: AFP
All the new deaths were in central Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus outbreak. In the provincial capital of Wuhan, 32 people died.
Across China, there were 2590 new confirmed infections on Saturday, bringing the total accumulated number so far to 14,380.
Meanwhile, Air New Zealand is urging people travelling on international flights to allow extra time for check-in, because of the new travel restrictions introduced by some countries in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
It says that with additional checks required for many of its destinations, airport check-in areas are busy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging people who are travelling from, or transiting through, China to check border restrictions being implemented by other countries they might be travelling to.
Countries that now have border restrictions for foreign nationals include Australia, Japan, Singapore and the US.
The Minister of Health, David Clark, and the Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, are holding a press conference on the virus at 4.30pm this afternoon.
- REUTERS with RNZ