(Yicai Global) Feb. 17 -- Chinese health authorities said today that it received reports of 2,048 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 105 deaths yesterday from 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

Among the deaths, 100 were in Hubei province, three in Henan province and two in Guangdong province, according to the China's National Health Commission. 

Hubei reported 1,933 new confirmed cases yesterday.  

Another 1,563 new suspected cases were reported yesterday, including 909 in Hubei, said the commission.

Also yesterday, 1,425 people were discharged from hospital after recovery.

The overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland had reached 70,548 by the end of yesterday, and 1,770 people had died of the disease.

The commission added that 10,644 patients remained in severe condition, and 7,264 people were suspected of being infected with the virus.

A total of 10,844 people had been discharged from hospital after recovery.

The commission said 546,016 close contacts had been traced, adding that among them, 28,179 were discharged from medical observation yesterday, with 150,539 others still under medical observation.

By the end of yesterday, 57 confirmed cases had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including one death), 10 in the Macau Special Administrative Region and 20 in Taiwan (including one death).

Two patients in Hong Kong, five in Macau and two in Taiwan have been discharged from hospital after recovery.

Editor: Xia Ruirui