(Yicai Global) Jan. 29 -- Central China's Hubei Province reported 840 new confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and 25 new deaths yesterday, the provincial health authorities said today.

By the end of yesterday, a total of 3,554 cumulative confirmed cases of the new pneumonia had been reported in Hubei, while 3,349 patients remained hospitalized, with 671 in severe conditions and 228 in critical conditions, according to the Hubei Provincial Health Commission.

A total of 20,366 close contacts were under medical observation.