China has reported 254 new daily deaths and a spike in new daily virus cases of 15,152. The total deaths from the more than 2-month-old outbreak as reported on Thursday stood at 1367, with the total number of confirmed cases mounting to 59,804. The death toll's spike came after China on Thursday replaced its top officials in the central province of Hubei and its capital, Wuhan, the epicenter of the viral outbreak that has infected more than 45,000 people worldwide. The public has widely criticised local officials for their handling of the outbreak of a new form of coronavirus. NG HAN GUAN/AP More than 1300 people have died as a result of the viral outbreak.

Source: Stuff February 13, 2020 09:56 UTC