Monday, February 10, 2020, marked the first day a total of 108 people in mainland China died from the Wuhan coronavirus.

According to the NHC, this is the first time the single-day death toll crossed into triple digits.

CNN reports: “The number of deaths per day in mainland China has steadily risen over the past few weeks, since the Chinese authorities began issuing daily updates.”

Chinese authorities said 17 people had died from the virus before January 23.

Meanwhile, officials say most cluster cases are spread among families.

A spokesman for China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention said: “Cluster cases generally refer to “more than two infected cases within a limited space.”

He told reporters that based on a study of more than 1,000 cluster cases, 83% were identified as family clusters.

Other cluster cases appeared to be from schools, supermarkets or places of work which appeared to be caused by “poor awareness of protection,” such as not wearing masks.

Here’s the breakdown from the NHC:

  • February 10: 108 deaths reported
  • February 9: 97 deaths reported
  • February 8: 89 deaths reported
  • February 7: 86 deaths reported
  • February 6: 73 deaths reported
  • February 5: 73 deaths reported
  • February 4: 65 deaths reported
  • February 3: 64 deaths reported
  • February 2: 57 deaths reported
  • February 1: 45 deaths reported
  • January 31: 46 deaths reported
  • January 30: 43 deaths reported
  • January 29: 38 deaths reported
  • January 28: 26 deaths reported
  • January 27: 26 deaths reported
  • January 26: 24 deaths reported
  • January 25: 15 deaths reported
  • January 24: 16 deaths reported
  • January 23: 8 deaths reported

How do you protect yourself and others?

Officials at Tuesday’s press conference reminded the public: if you have infected family members, rooms should be well ventilated, practice good hand hygiene, avoid public gathering and meal-sharing, and employ good health practices if you have to take public transportation.

The World Health Organization has advised people to avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing and sneezing.

Scientists believe this coronavirus started in another animal and then spread to humans, so health officials recommend cooking meat and eggs thoroughly.

Dr John Wiesman, the Health Secretary in Washington state – where the first US case of Wuhan coronavirus was confirmed, said the public should do “what you do every cold and flu season”.

“That includes washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and disinfecting the objects and surfaces you touch if you are ill.

“If you or your doctor suspect you might have the coronavirus, the CDC advises wearing a surgical mask.”

Health officials in Hong Kong have confirmed seven additional cases of the virus, bringing the city-wide total to 49.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Dr. Chuang Shuk-Kwan of the Center for Health Protection said four of the additional cases can be traced back to previous confirmed cases.

Chuang said one case number involves a patient who was a co-worker of a confirmed case who contracted the virus whilst eating hotpot at a dinner party.

Three of the cases are not connected to previous community cluster cases, according to Chuang, who added that two of the three remaining cases have no recent travel history.