444 cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) were confirmed in Central China’s Hubei province, resulting in 17 deaths, as of 8 pm Wednesday, local officials announced at a news conference.

(Photo: People's Daily app/Xiao Luxin)

69 new cases in Hubei, including 62 from the capital city Wuhan, were confirmed on Wednesday by 8 pm, with 8 new deaths.

Among the confirmed cases, 399 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, with 71 in severe condition and 24 in critical condition, said Yang Yunyan, deputy governor of the province, at a press conference.

A total of 2,556 close contacts had been placed under medical observation, with 863 people released.

(Photo: People's Daily app/Fan Haotian)

In response to the outbreak, Wuhan has imposed travel restrictions that will allow local authorities to screen all the vehicles and passengers in and out of the city, as well as a requirement for all citizens to wear masks in the public.

(Compiled by Han Xiaomeng; with input from Xinhua)