Citing China’s National Health Commission (NHC), media reports say more than 28,000 confirmed cases reported so far.

NHC reportedly said today that the death toll in China’s coronavirus outbreak has risen to 564.  

In a statement, the commission said 28,018 confirmed cases have been reported so far and 73 people have died in the last 24 hours.

The number of people under medical observation has risen to 186,354, while the number of those thought to be infected is now 24,702.

According to CNN, the infected more than 28,000 people in over 25 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Singapore, France, Russia, Spain and India..

Many countries have evacuated their citizens from the city of Wuhan -- the epicenter of the virus -- and other affected areas of China, placing them in isolated medical care.

Close to 60 million people remain under lockdown in China, with three cities reporting over a thousand confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, around 3,700 people are being held on Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan after a passenger who had departed the vessel tested positive for the virus, according to CNN.

The virus is said to have been transmitted to humans from animals, particularly bats.

It has raised alarm worldwide, with cases reported across Asia, Europe, the United States and Canada.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak an international emergency.