(photo: Reuters)

A VOV correspondent in China quoted Chinese health authorities on Thursday as saying that no new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were reported Wednesday throughout 12 provincial-level regions of China, including Fujian, Shanghai, Guizhou and Yunnan province bordering Vietnam.

The Chinese National Health Commission said the number of new confirmed cases outside Hubei has been on the decline for 16 consecutive days. A total of 45 new confirmed cases were reported on Wednesday outside Hubei. About 1,000 COVID-19 patients were treated and released from hospitals in the past 8 days.

The Commission said it received reports of 349 new confirmed cases in Hubei on Wednesday, the smallest number since the Lunar New Year holiday.