Beijing, Jan 26 (IANS): The death toll due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China has increased to 56, while the number of infected persons were 1,975, the National Health Commission said on Sunday.

The Commission said that of the 1,975 infected persons, 324 were in serious conditions, reports Xinhua news agency.

A total of 2,684 suspected cases have also been reported.

Meanwhile, other cases outside of China were reported in France (two), Australia (one), Thailand (four including two cured), Japan (two including one cured), South Korea (two), the US (two), Vietnam (two), Singapore (three), Nepal (one), Hong Kong (five), Macao (two) and Taiwan (three).

The symptoms of the new coronavirus, provisionally designated by the World Health Organization (who) as 2019-nCoV, are similar to those of cold but may be accompanied by fever and fatigue, dry cough and dyspnea (shortness of breath).

The WHO is yet to declare the outbreak as an international health emergency.

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and the epicentre of the outbreak, has been on lockdown since January 23 to prevent further spread of the virus and the city's authorities have begun to build a "special hospital" with 1,000 beds for infected patients.

The hospital in Wuhan will be based on the model of a similar facility that was built in just seven days in Beijing to deal with SARS in 2003.