Huanggang, near the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, said on Thursday that it will tighten epidemic control measures, including sealing residential complexes and only allowing essential vehicles on roads. Delivery of food and other essential goods will be arranged by designated personnel, the city said in a statement.

In a related development, an additional 8 cases of Covid-19 were reported in Singapore, bringing the total number of infected people there to 58. The 8 new patients have never been to China, but are related to previously reported cases.

An 80-year-old woman in Japan has died from the coronavirus, becoming that country's first known fatality. She had not traveled abroad recently.