Beijing, Feb 1 (TIWN) Even as the number of deaths from the new coronavirus in China touched 213, infection in nearly 10,000 other persons took such cases worldwide beyond those reported during the Sars epidemic in over two dozen countries in 2003.

There were around 8,100 cases of Sars - severe acute respiratory syndrome - reported during the eight-month outbreak.  But nearly 10,000 cases of the new virus have been confirmed, most in China, since it emerged in December.  More than 100 cases have been reported outside China, in 22 countries.  The number of deaths so far stands at 213 - all in China. In total, 774 people were killed by Sars.