A patient in Canada who was being treated for the Coronavirus was discharged from hospital on Friday after his condition improved, according to health officials.

The man, who was in his 50s was the first person confirmed to have caught the virus in Canada. He was being treated at Toronto Sunnybrook Hospital.

The deadly coronavirus has killed 213 people in China and led to over 9,692 confirmed cases in the Asian country. It is also spreading worldwide infecting 10,000 people.

A spokesman for Toronto Sunnybrook Hospital said that the man's condition had improved throughout the week, and "he no longer required in-patient care."

The hospital has liaised with Toronto Public Health and both will continue to monitor the patient at home.

The man, who has not been named, was taken to the Sunnybrook Hospital the day after he returned from travelling in Wuhan, on January 23.

His wife also tested positive for the virus, known as 2019-nCoV, but has been recovering at home in self-isolation.

Canada is investigating at least 17 other people for possible coronavirus infection, according to Ontario health officials, down from the 27 reported a day earlier. No further positive cases have been reported.

Those under investigation, have either been brought to a hospital for treatment or ordered to self-isolate in their homes, officials said.

A third Canadian case of 2019-nCoV was confirmed in British Columbia.

Dr. Michael Gardam, chief of staff at Humber River Hospital told Canadian media that there is no reason to believe the illness will begin spreading in Canada.

He said: "The risk right now, in Toronto or in Canada, for the general public ... is zero."