The number of deaths from China's new coronavirus epidemicjumped to 722 on Saturday, surpassing the toll from the SARS outbreak on themainland and Hong Kong almost two decades ago.
According to the regional Health Commission, another 86people died from the virus in central Hubei province, where the disease emergedin December. The commission also confirmed another 3399 new cases. There are nowmore than 34,598 confirmed infections across the country. There are 27,657suspected cases of the disease.
Severe AcuteRespiratory Syndrome (SARS), a disease in the same family as the newcoronavirus, left nearly 650 people dead in mainland China and Hong Kong in2002-2003.
Meanwhile,the United States has offered up to 100 million US dollars to China and otherimpacted countries to combat the fast-spreading coronavirus. Secretary of StateMike Pompeo said the United States will provide assistance either directly orthrough multilateral organizations.
