Coronavirus death toll passes 2,000 in China

The death toll from the novel coronavirus outbreak has reached 2,000 in China, with over 74,000 infections reported.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that confirmed cases transmitted outside China could be the 'tip of the iceberg'.

Despite the rising death toll, Chinese officials noted that most patients experience mild cases and the overall mortality rate remains relatively low at 2.3 percent, though higher than seasonal flu.

The epidemic continues to disrupt the global economy, with major firms like Apple and BHP warning of financial impacts and countries like Russia banning Chinese citizens.

In response to the outbreak, authorities have placed about 56 million people in Hubei province under lockdown, implementing measures such as door-to-door surveillance.

The WHO cautioned against excessive containment measures and panic-buying, while acknowledging the seriousness of the outbreak and the need for vigilance.

Hundreds of infections have been reported on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan, with several countries repatriating their citizens.