China says coronavirus infections peak has passed

China says it is confident the worst is over in its battle to curb the coronavirus outbreak.

Authorities said it recorded just eight new infections in a day in the outbreak epicentre of Hubei province, the first time it has been in single figures since the outbreak started.

Local authorities have slowly eased travel restrictions and factories will soon be able to restart production.

"Broadly speaking, the peak of the epidemic has passed for China," said Mi Feng, spokesman at the National Health Commission.

Outside of Hubei there were seven new cases recorded on Wednesday, but six of these were imported from overseas.

With cases from abroad threatening to derail its progress, the government has designated an entire terminal at Beijing Capital International Airport as a special zone for inbound flights from high-risk countries.

These include flights from Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan.

Beijing ordered a 14-day quarantine for all passengers arriving in the city from overseas.

The outbreak has infected more than 80,000 people across China