China sees 'coming victory' over coronavirus

China, where COVID-19 originated, remains the hardest-hit nation, with 80,151 cases and 2,943 deaths, but its ambassador to the United Nations said late Monday that it has turned a corner in battling the disease.

"We are not far from the coming of the victory," said Zhang Jun, ahead of daily figures released Tuesday that showed new cases in China dropped to 125, a six-week low.

But the optimism in China contrasts with a growing sense of alarm in other parts of Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States.

-- Kim Hjelmgaard

Contributing: David Jackson, USA TODAY; The Associated Press.

1. Published 8:46 AM EST Mar 3, 2020