Tibet reports first confirmed case of novel coronavirus pneumonia

Photo taken on Jan. 27, 2020 shows the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The Potala Palace will be closed from Jan. 27 until further notice in an effort to prevent possible spread of the novel coronavirus, local authorities said Sunday. (Xinhua/Chogo)

Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region reported the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus pneumonia Thursday, according to local health authorities.

The patient surnamed Zhang is being treated in a designated hospital, with stable vital signs. Close contacts have been put under medical observation, according to the regional health commission.

Tibet on Wednesday activated the top-level emergency response. It is the last provincial-level region in the Chinese mainland to launch the top-level response to contain the novel coronavirus epidemic.