Mainland reports two new COVID-19 cases, both imported

The Chinese mainland recorded two new COVID-19 confirmed cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 82,885, statistics from the National Health Commission showed on Thursday.

The two infections were both imported cases and reported by Shanghai and Guangdong province, respectively, it said.

Shanghai also recorded two new imported suspected cases on Wednesday, said the commission, adding that the existing four suspected cases and 246 of the 295 existing confirmed cases were imported.

As of Wednesday, China had a total of 1,680 confirmed imported cases, with 1,434 of them cured and discharged from hospitals and five still in severe condition. The country did not report any new deaths.

On Wednesday, 46 people were discharged from hospitals after recovery, bringing the total cured number to 77,957 on the Chinese mainland, and the number of severe cases fell by three to 23.

None of the six newly reported asymptomatic cases on Wednesday were confirmed. A total of 880 such cases, including 81 imported cases, are still under medical observation. The day also saw 29 of these patients being released from observation.

Of the 735,737 people who have been traced as close contacts with the infected, 6,537 of them are still under medical observation, the commission added.

By Wednesday, 1,040 confirmed cases, including four deaths, had been reported in Hong Kong, 45 confirmed cases reported in Macao and 439 in Taiwan, including six deaths. And 932 patients in Hong Kong, 40 in Macao and 339 in Taiwan have been discharged from hospitals after recovery.