BEIJING: Chinese health authorities announced on Sunday that 1,975 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus, including 324 in critical conditions, had been reported in the country by the end of Saturday.

During the past 24 hours, 688 new confirmed cases, 1,309 new suspected cases and 15 deaths from the disease -- 13 in Hubei, one in Shanghai and one in Henan-- were reported, according to the National Health Commission.