On Tuesday March 24 Chinese authorities reported 78 new cases of coronavirus, leading to fear of a second wave of infection as a vast majority of the new cases came from overseas. 

Wuhan, the epicentre where the virus emerged last year recorded its first new case in nearly a week. Three other local infections were also reported elsewhere in the country. 

AFP reported that China’s National Health Commission said seven more people died, all in Wuhan.

The imported cases confirmed on Tuesday were the highest since officials started reporting the data at the beginning of March, and nearly double those reported Monday March 23. While the virus has killed more than 16,000 people worldwide, the tally of imported cases in China has soared to 427.

All Beijing-bound international flights are being diverted to other cities where they will be screened for the virus. There have now been over 81,000 cases in China, and the death toll has reached 3,277.