WUHAN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A 91-year-old patient infected with the novel coronavirus has been cured in the city of Yichang, central China's Hubei Province on Friday.

The patient surnamed Wang is the oldest cured patient infected with the virus in China so far.

"I am very happy to be cured," said Wang. "I want to thank all the medical staff for their treatment and organizations at all levels for their concern and care."

The patient was hospitalized in the third people's hospital of Yichang on Jan. 23 and discharged from the hospital on Friday.

The patient's case can not only provides a reference for the treatment of other patients, but also strengthen the confidence of primary-level medical institutions in the cure of elderly and severe patients, said Du Debing, deputy head of the hospital.