New Delhi: A viral outbreak that began in China has taken lives of at least 780 people in country's Hubei province, Sputnik reported citing Chinese authorities on Sunday. According to China's health officials, the number of people affected by the virus has reached 27,100. Over 1,400 people have recovered and have been discharged from the hospital. While the deadly virus has reportedly infected more than 34,800 people globally.

The novel coronavirus was first detected in China's Wuhan in late December and has since spread to more than 25 countries. As of Saturday, the latest figures reported by global health authorities, quoted by the Associated Press, stood at-

— China: 722 deaths and 34,546 confirmed cases on the mainland. In addition, Hong Kong has had 25 cases, including one death. Macao has had 10 cases. Most of the deaths have been in central Hubei province, where illnesses from the new type of coronavirus were first detected in December.

— Japan: 89

— Singapore: 33

— Thailand: 25

— South Korea: 24

— Australia: 14

— Germany: 13

— United States: 12

— Taiwan: 16

— Malaysia: 15

— Vietnam: 13

— France: 6

— United Arab Emirates: 5

— Canada: 6

— United Kingdom: 3

— India: 3

— Philippines: 3 cases, including 1 death

— Russia: 2

— Italy: 3

— Britain: 3

— Belgium: 1

— Nepal: 1

— Sri Lanka: 1

— Sweden: 1

— Spain: 1

— Cambodia: 1

— Finland: 1

China shipments put off, coronavirus fears grip travel, trade

As the fear of coronavirus has gripped the world, the local traders say supply of several items, like auto parts, electronic goods and pharma products, would be hit if the deadly Wuhan virus prolonged for two more weeks.

The bilateral trade with other Southeast Asian countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, could also see disruptions.

In the wake of rising coronavirus toll in China and infections spreading to other countries, the aviation sector has been hit hard with airlines suspending flights to and from China. The two Indian carriers, Air India and IndiGo, have suspended their flights to China and Hong Kong. They have also seen their flight occupancy dropping as people are avoiding travel.

Also Watch | Amid Coronavirus outbreak, Chinese woman marries Indian in WB



138 under observation in Karnataka

The Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services Department has kept under observation 138 persons across the state in the wake of coronavirus scare, a health official said on Saturday. "We are observing 138 people across the state, including in Bengaluru," the department's Communicable Diseases Wing Joint Director Prakash Kumar told IANS.

Though no coronavirus-positive case has been reported from Karnataka so far, four persons have been admitted in state hospital under medical observation, Kumar confirmed.

Of the 104 samples sent for testing from the state, 85 have so far been declared negative. As many as 130 persons across the state were kept under home-isolation observation.

1,804 passengers screened for coronavirus in Punjab

A total of 1,804 passengers have been screened for novel coronavirus at Amritsar and Mohali airports as well as border check posts of Atari and Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab, Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said. He said no symptomatic or suspected case of coronavirus has been reported out of these passengers.

Sidhu said the government of India on Friday issued the guidelines that all passengers coming from China after January 15 will be screened and tested.

(with inputs from agencies)