The death toll from China's coronavirus outbreak has surpassed 250, the government said on Saturday, as foreign nations tightened restrictions on travellers from China in response to the rapid spread of the illness.

At least 259 people have died and 11,791 people have been infected in China by the new coronavirus, according to new figures from China's health officials.

Most of the latest fatalities are from Hubei province. The city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak is located in Hubei. 

Another 102,000 people were also reportedly under medical observation with possible symptoms of the respiratory ailment.

Fresh cases have been detected abroad, with more than 20 countries now affected, including Spain and the UK.

The top Communist Party official in Wuhan, the central city of 11 million people where the virus first emerged in December, on Friday expressed "remorse" because local authorities acted too slowly.

Source: Al Jazeera News

BDST: 0924 HRS, FEB 01, 2020
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