A hotel employee takes the temperature of a guest who had just checked in in Wuhan on Jan 24, 2020. (HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)

BEIJING - Chinese health authorities announced Friday that 830 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) had been reported across 29 provincial-level regions in the country by the end of Thursday.

China's finance ministry has allocated 1 billion yuan (about US$145 million) to support Hubei province's battle against the coronavirus

Among them, 34 had been cured and discharged from hospitals, according to the National Health Commission (NHC). A total of 1,072 suspected cases have been reported in 20 provincial-level regions, according to the commission.

READ MORE: WHO: Coronavirus outbreak not yet global health emergency

The pneumonia situation had resulted in 25 deaths, including 24 in central China's Hubei province and one in north China's Hebei province, according to the commission. 
China's finance ministry has allocated 1 billion yuan (about US$145 million) to support Hubei province's battle against the coronavirus.

As of Thursday midnight, five confirmed cases had been reported in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan, with two in Hong Kong, two in Macao and one in Taiwan.

Overseas, three cases had been confirmed in Thailand, with two of them already cured. One patient was cured in Japan. The Republic of Korea and Vietnam confirmed two. The United States and Singapore confirmed one case each.

A total of 9,507 people who came in close contact with the infected people have been traced, the commission said, adding that of them, 8,420 are under medical observation and 1,087 have been discharged. 

Transport refund 

China's transport departments will allow passengers to cancel their tickets for all modes of transport nationwide without charging fees.

The decision was made by the Ministry of Transport (MOT), China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. and the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

READ MORE: Wuhan, other Hubei cities suspend public transportation

The measure went into effect from Friday, as part of the efforts to control the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, said the MOT.

As part of the policy, passengers who have previously purchased train tickets at railway stations, online railway ticket-booking platforms or other channels may cancel their tickets and get full refunds.

This policy now also applies to airlines, long-distance coach services and waterway transport, with all fees waived for ticket cancellations.