(Yicai Global) March 18 -- Wuhan, the original epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak, has confirmed another new case of the disease today, marking the sixth in five straight days in the capital of Hubei province and highlighting the potential risk of community infection.

The latest patient was a vegetable market manager who likely became infected through exposure to the virus at the market, Xinhua cited the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission as saying. 

"For a few days in a row, there have been scattered cases throughout the community," the commission's Deputy Director Zheng Yun said at a press briefing on March 15, warning local residents to "stay alert" as there was still a risk of community infection.

There are still a number of sporadic cases emerging around the local area, Jiao Yahui, a hospital management official with the National Health Commission, told the press, saying this is normal for infectious diseases that the public should not panic.

Wuhan's Covid-19 death toll had reached 2,490 as of yesterday, while 7,483 patients were still receiving treatment. The city has confirmed a total of 50,005 cases and 40,032 of those have already recovered and left hospital.

Editor: James Boynton