A medical worker prepares to receive the first batch of patients of the novel coronavirus pneumonia at Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

 
The number of the COVID-19 infection cases reported daily, excluding epicenter Hubei Province, in the Chinese mainland showed a decline for the 11th consecutive day Friday, the national health authority said.

According to the data released by  China’s National Health Commission, from 0:00 to 24:00 on Friday, 221 new cases were confirmed in all regions in the Chinese mainland except Hubei, the epicenter of the virus. 

More provinces reported only single-digit additions. Shanghai reported 8 new confimed cases, East China’s Fujian Province 4, North China’s Shanxi Province 1 as of Friday. 

On February 3, 890 new cases were confirmed.

The Chinese public view this constant decline as a sign of joy, signaling the country’s road to victory against the virus outbreak.

Many netizens believe, the decline implies the onset of the epidemic peak, while some encouraged the public to hold out till victory of the battle. However, many netizens also advised people to be cautious against the potential danger amid the influx of people during the work resumption period.

The Chinese mainland on Friday reported 2,641 confirmed new cases, 849 new cases in critical condition and 143 new deaths. Among the figures, 139 new cases were confirmed in Hubei, with 2,277 suspected new cases.

Hubei reported 2,420 confirmed new cases, with 1,923 cases reported in Wuhan on the same day.

Some 1,373 new cases of recovery have been reported, following which the patients were discharged from the hospital. 30,081 cases were released from close medical observation on Friday. 

As of Friday, Hong Kong has reported 56 confirmed cases, Macau 10, and Taiwan 18.