Photo: VNA

As of Wednesday night, there were 81, 279 cases of the novel coronavirus with 2,770 fatalities in 42 countries and territories, 2,715 of which were in China. South Korea’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 284 new infections, raising South Korea’s total to 1,261. Japan announced 2 new deaths and Iran reported 3 new deaths. The outbreak in Italy is worse, with 374 infections and 12 deaths, the Italian Civil Protection Department said.