The number of people who have died from the coronavirus in China has risen to 304, the Associated Press reports.

The country's National Health Commission reported Saturday that the total number of cases is now over 14,000, eclipsing the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus that began in southern China in 2002-03.

Wuhan – the epicenter of the outbreak – and 16 other cities in China have been quarantined, affecting an estimated 50 million people. The containment net is the largest quarantine in modern history. ADVERTISEMENT

On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) labeled the virus a global emergency and recommended that all countries try to prevent the cross-border spread of the virus, but noted that unnecessary interference with trade or travel should be avoided.

President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE declared the coronavirus a public health emergency in the U.S. Friday and restricted travel to and from China. Aside from the immediate family of U.S. citizens, Chinese nationals who traveled to China in the past two weeks will be barred from entering the country.

The U.S. isn't the only country to enact such precautions, as Australia, Japan and Singapore have also set similar restrictions, the AP reports.