With 5,974 cases of a new virus, China now has more infections than it did in with SARS, though the death toll is still lower.
China had 5,327 cases of SARS in the 2002-2003 outbreak.
China reported another large jump in cases Wednesday and a rise in the death toll to 132. That compares to 348 people killed in China during SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome), which killed nearly 800 people worldwide.
More than 50 cases have been reported outside China, including three in Canada: two in Toronto and one in BC.
Countries have begun evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by the outbreak and some airlines have started suspending all flights to and from mainland China.
Meanwhile, Toronto Public Health (TPH) has established a hotline for people who people who travelled on China Southern Airlines flight to Toronto from Guangzhou on January 22.
People who were on the flight can call TPH at 416-338-7600 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne says the government will provide consular services to all Canadians trapped in the coronavirus-affected region of China due to commercial travel restrictions.
During a news conference on Parliament Hill yesterday, Champagne said that 250 Canadians in the affected area have now registered with Global Affairs, and 126 have requested consular assistance to get home.
Ontario health officials have also cleared more patients suspected of carrying the new strain of coronavirus, lowering the number of cases being investigated in the province from 19 to 11.
For the latest information on the coronavirus from The Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit, please click here.
For the most up-to-date information on the status of cases in Ontario, please click here.
