The number of infections detected by the new coronavirus increased in just one day by 14,840 to 48,208 known cases, while during the previous day 97 deaths and 1638 new infections were reported. No new information on the spread of the virus has been summarized across the country so far. However, as a result of new infections in Hubei, where lung disease initially erupted in Wuhan, the total number of infections in mainland China has increased to over 59,000.

According to the Hubei Health Commission, the diagnostic results have been “revised” after a thorough review. According to the new classification, new patients have been added. Accordingly, cases of “clinical diagnoses” are included in the number of confirmed diagnoses as of Thursday. What exactly this means and how it explains the jump in statistics is not clear yet.

In general, experts suspect a very large number of undeclared cases. For example, they believe the testing capabilities of the new virus are limited. In addition, the changing system of registering in China with different case definitions seems particularly challenging for local authorities. According to experts, the data reported on a daily basis represent the ability to identify and report cases, not the true extent of the epidemic.

In the Chinese province of Hubei, the hardest hit by the coronavirus, there is a change in the leadership of the Communist Party. Former Mayor of Shanghai Ying Yong will replace Jiang Chaoliang, as the Communist Party secretary of Hubei province. Jiang Chaoliang’s resignation follows the resignation of two other senior officials in Hubei.

In the meantime, a number of companies continue to experience difficulties in the new environment. For example, Wednesday it was rumoured that the Formula 1 Grand Prix in China would be postponed officially because of the coronavirus. Boeing sales director Ihssane Mounir said the new coronavirus would have a profound impact on the aviation sector and the economy as a whole, and Taiwanese electronics maker Foxconn said it hoped to resume half of its production in China by the end of the month. Mazda, for its part, has delayed the resumption of operations at its factory in the Chinese city of Nanjing, with a new deadline of February 17.