China's Hubei province reports nearly 15,000 new coronavirus cases and 242 additional deaths in 1 day

Morgan McFall-Johnsen

February 13, 2020 12:26 AM

China's Hubei province reported 14,840 new coronavirus cases and 242 deaths on Wednesday.

Coronavirus Hong Kong Hong Mei House

The new numbers are the highest reported in a single day since the outbreak began.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

China's Hubei province reported 14,840 new coronavirus cases and 242 deaths on Wednesday.

Since the virus appeared in Wuhan in December, it has killed about 1,360 people and infected more than 60,000 across the globe. (For the latest case total and death toll, see Business Insider's live updates .)

Wednesday's report marked the highest infection and death count in a single day since the outbreak began.

Of the nearly 15,000 new reported cases, 13,332 were clinically diagnosed, meaning the patients were diagnosed based on showing symptoms of the coronavirus but don't necessarily have confirmed lab test results. These clinical diagnoses don't appear to have been included in prior daily case counts from Hubei province, so the change is likely what accounts for the large single-day jump.

Hubei province reported that an additional 9,028 patients that are suspected to have the virus.

The coronavirus, officially called COVID-19, has spread to at least 26 countries. Cities across China have imposed partial or full quarantine to contain the virus's spread, which affect more than 50 million people.