4:45 pm: Chinese health official reportedly claims coronavirus is 'preventable and treatable'

The coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 70,000 people and caused 1,770 deaths in China is both "preventable and treatable," according to an official from the country's National Health Commission.

Guo Yanhong, a hospital administration official at China's National Health Commission, delivered the remarks at a daily press conference, Reuters reported on Monday.

His comments come shortly after the commission reported 105 additional deaths and 2,048 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Feb. 16.

That brings the country's overall total to 70,548 confirmed cases, and 1,770 deaths, according to authorities. (See 8:50 a.m. update). https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/17/coronavirus-latest-updates-china-hubei.html

Me: It _is_ preventable and treatable in most people. People who are already in poor health are the ones that are dying, according to everything I've read.