The authorities in central China's Hubei Province have postponed the start of new school semester until February 20 in light of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus which has infected more than 48,000 people in the province.

Meanwhile, businesses in the region will also remain shut until February 20.

Hubei, a province of more than 59 million people, is the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

As of Wednesday, a total of 1,310 people have died of the virus in Hubei while 3,441 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovery. 

(Cover: File photo)