AFP, BEIJINGThe death toll from the coronavirus epidemic in China yesterday climbed to 1,113, but the number of new cases fell for a second straight day, raising hope that the outbreak could peak later this month. Ninety-seven more deaths were reported, bringing the total number of people infected by COVID-19 in mainland China to 44,653. Most of the deaths and a majority of cases have been in central Hubei Province, whose capital, Wuhan, is the epicenter of the outbreak. Outside the province, the number of new patients has declined for the past week. The store was already closed at that point, then disinfected on Feb. 1, but several more diagnoses soon followed, it reported.

Source: Taipei Times February 12, 2020 15:56 UTC