BEIJING — China has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), shoring up its economy and providing support for local governments and individuals to fight the epidemic as a growing number of confirmed cases of infections is reported.

Here are the latest developments:

— By the end of Feb 3, 20,438 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in China, and 425 people had died of the disease.

— A total of 632 patients infected with the novel coronavirus had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of Feb 3.

— Wuhan in Central China's Hubei province plans to convert three existing venues, including a gymnasium and an exhibition center, into hospitals to receive patients infected with the novel coronavirus.

— A one-month-old baby girl was among the new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection in Southwest China's Guizhou province on Feb 3, Guizhou Provincial Health Commission said on Feb 4.