China has announced a drop in new cases from the coronavirus outbreak for a third consecutive day. On Sunday (Feb 16), authorities reported 2,009 new cases and 142 more deaths nationwide.
New cases spiked earlier in the week after a change in the way they were counted but have been falling ever since.
In total more than 68,000 people have been infected in China, with the death toll at 1,665.
Outside of China there have been more than 500 cases in nearly 30 countries. Four people have died - in France, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Japan.
Speaking before the latest figures were released Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the drop in new cases showed "that overall the epidemic is controllable".
"We've taken such complete prevention and control efforts, efforts that are so comprehensive, that I can't see any other country that can do this," he said.
- Source: News websites
