CNBC Asia

"This disease came unseen and undetected into Iran, so the extent of infection may be broader than what we may be seeing," world health officials said.

WHO's top official said the biggest concerns now are what's happening outside China, where the growth in cases have slowed.

The remarks came after International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach told Japanese media that the IOC is "fully committed" to holding the Olympics on schedule. The games are scheduled to start July 24 and go through Aug. 9.

The number of daily new COVID-19 cases outside China exceeded those inside the country for the first time, the WHO announced Wednesday.

Japan's prime minister has said the government will ask all elementary, junior high and high schools to close from March 2.

The number of daily new COVID-19 cases outside China exceeded those inside the country for the first time, the WHO announced Wednesday.

The Nikkei 225 in Japan closed 2.13% lower as investors continued to watch for developments on the coronavirus outbreak that recently spread rapidly outside of China, where the disease was first reported.

Some of Malaysia's regional neighbors have announced stimulus packages worth billions of dollars to support their economies through the coronavirus outbreak.

"This kind of confusion breeds distrust. You should stick to a standard even if you have caveats," global health economist at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding said.

Since Jan. 31, when the Trump administration declared the outbreak a public health emergency in the U.S., Americans across the country who return from China have been asked to self-quarantine.

Stringent travel restrictions imposed on inbound flights from China to contain the coronavirus outbreak become "irrelevant" in a potential pandemic because "you can't keep out the entire world," a top U.S. health official said.

Europe continues to report a slew of coronavirus cases with France seeing its second death and Italy reporting its 12th death. Greece has also confirmed its first coronavirus case

Amid accusations of a government cover-up, it's widely suspected that the number of cases and deaths in Iran are higher than officially reported.

Shares in mainland China led losses among major Asia Pacific markets on Wednesday as investors withdrew amid concerns over the coronavirus outbreak beyond China.

The Malaysian ringgit could slide further as the country grapples with a recent political upheaval and the coronavirus outbreak, says Gerald Ambrose of Aberdeen Standard Investments Malaysia.

Hong Kong is expected to register "an all-time high" fiscal deficit of 139.1 billion Hong Kong dollars, said the city's Financial Secretary Paul Chan.

Figures from App Annie showed consumers' expenditure on the top 10 dating applications in Japan surging 125% in the first half of 2019.

"We are on time at least and maybe even a little bit better," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters.

The total number of COVID-19 cases climbed above 80,200 as of Tuesday with deaths climbing to at least 2,704.

IPC, a trade group that represents contract manufacturers and other suppliers of electronic parts, said that 84% of the companies it surveyed are worried about coronavirus delays.