Death toll from Coronavirus outbreak in China rises to 2,236

Death toll from the outbreak in mainland China reached 2,236 the national health commission reported on Friday.

Beijing also reported 889 new confirmed cases of the disease during the same period, up from 349 cases the previous day, reversing three days of decline.

At least 411 of the new cases were from Hubei, the epicentre of the epidemic. Most of the deaths were also from the province.

The latest number of infections nationwide has now reached 75,465 while Death toll from  coronavirus rises 2,236.

South Korean capital Seoul has banned rallies in major downtown areas in efforts to fight the viral outbreak.

The news comes as the country reports 52 new cases of infections, raising its total to 156, after declaring the southern city of Daegu a special zone following an explosion of infections.

South Korea on Friday declared Daegu City as a “special management zone” following an explosion in new virus infections.

On Thursday, Daegu reported 23 new cases which were traced to a church that a 61-year-old coronavirus patient had attended.

South Korea currently has at least 82 cases of the infection.

Two evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan have tested positive for coronavirus in Australia, according to authorities on Friday.

Australia evacuated 170 citizens from the cruise ship owned by Carnival Corp, who had been confined to their cabins since February 3, when the vessel was quarantined at Yokohama, south of the capital, Tokyo.

After arriving in Australia’s tropical north all passengers were screened and those complaining of being unwell were tested for coronavirus. They will spend the next 14 days there in quarantine.