Zhao Jianping (C), a respiratory and critical care specialist from the Wuhan-based Tongji Hospital, inquires a patient at the severe case ward in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)

WUHAN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Hubei Province, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, reported 499 new confirmed cases of the virus infection and 68 new deaths on Monday, the provincial health commission said Tuesday.

The latest report brought the number of total confirmed cases in the hard-hit province to 64,786 and total deaths to 2,563.

Wuhan, the provincial capital, reported 464 new confirmed cases and 56 new deaths on Monday. In total, the city has registered 47,071 confirmed cases and 2,043 deaths.

The province also saw 2,116 patients discharged from hospital after recovery on Monday, bringing the total number of discharged patients in the province to 18,854.

Among the 37,896 hospitalized patients, 7,090 were still in severe condition and another 1,585 in critical condition.

The commission also said Hubei had 2,292 suspected cases, after 846 suspected cases were ruled out while 373 were added on Monday.