The number of confirmed infections of the novel coronavirus on the Chinese mainland climbed to 28,018 as of Wednesday at midnight, including 563 deaths, according to the National Health Commission.

Data released by the commission on Thursday morning also shows 3,694 of the cases and 73 deaths were newly reported on Wednesday.

A slower growth rate of new suspected cases that emerged on Monday and Tuesday failed to continue on Wednesday .

The number of suspected infections now totals 24,702, with 5,328 new ones registered on Wednesday. A day earlier, 3,971 suspected cases were reported.

While 3,859 patients remain in serious condition, a total of 1,153 people have been cured and released from hospitals as of Wednesday at midnight, the commission said.

A total of 186,354 people that have had close contact with infected patients are still under medical observation, it added.

Hubei province, center of the outbreak, reported 2,987 new confirmed cases and 70 new deaths on Wednesday, bringing the two numbers up to 19,665 and 549 respectively according to the province's health commission.

A total of 14,314 people sickened by the virus are still hospitalized in the province. Among them, 2,328 people have serious symptoms and 756 are in critical condition. Meanwhile, 633 have been discharged from hospital, the commission said.

Medical observation continues on 64,127 people.