New Delhi, Feb 18: The coronavirus death toll reached 1,868 in mainland China on Tuesday with 98 new deaths, officials said.

The total number of confirmed cases jumped to 72,436.

Of the new deaths, 93 were reported from epicentre of the virus Hubei province while three from Henan and one each from Hebei and Hunan, said the national heath commission.

As many as 1,807 new confirmed cases were reported in Hubei taking the total number to 59,989in the province.

Another 1,432 new suspected cases were reported from rest of China.

The virus first emerged in December last year in central Hubei province before spreading across the country.