With an increase of 1,749 over the course of Tuesday, total infections of the novel coronavirus on the Chinese mainland have reached 74,185, according to the National Health Commission. 

Most new cases were reported from Hubei province, the hardest hit region by the outbreak. Only 56 infections were counted from elsewhere, marking the 15th straight day with a decline in daily growth outside Hubei. 

A day earlier, 79 cases were reported outside Hubei on the Chinese mainland.   

As of Tuesday at midnight, 2,004 people have succumbed to the pathogen and 136 of them died of it that day, data released by the commission on Wednesday morning also showed. 

The commission said 1,185 suspected cases were added on Tuesday, and there are now 5,248 such cases across the Chinese mainland. 

Among the 57,805 patients under medical treatment, 11,977 remain in serious condition. A total of 14,376 people have been cured and released from hospitals as of Tuesday at midnight.

A total of 135,881 people that have had close contact with infected patients are still under medical observation.