The Chinese mainland reported 2,829 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, with the largest increase — 2,103 cases — recorded in Hubei province, the center of the outbreak, official data shows.

The total number of confirmed infections climbed to 17,205 as of Sunday at midnight, including 361 deaths, the National Health Commission announced on Monday morning.

Hubei province reported 56 new deaths on Sunday, it said, adding Chongqing municipality had also registered a death.

There were also 5,173 new suspected cases, including 3,260 in Hubei, as of Sunday, pushing the total suspected infections on the Chinese mainland up to 21,558.

So far 2,296 patients are in serious condition, and 475 people have been released from hospital after being cured, the commission said.

It found a total of 189,583 people who have had close contact with the infected, of whom 152,700 are still under medical observation.

As the domestic epicenter of the outbreak, Hubei's confirmed cases and deaths have reached 11,177 and 350 respectively as of Sunday at midnight.

Now, 9,618 people sickened by the virus are being hospitalized, of whom 1,223 have serious symptoms and 478 are in critical condition.

A total of 48,171 people who have had close contact with the infected are receiving medical observation in the province, the commission said.