(Yicai Global) March 7 -- Chinese health authority said today that 24 imported cases of novel coronavirus infection were reported on the Chinese mainland, including 17 in Gansu province, three in Beijing, three in Shanghai and one in Guangdong province.

By the end of yesterday, 60 imported cases had been reported, according to the National Health Commission.

The commission received reports of 99 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 28 deaths yesterday on the Chinese mainland.

The 28 deaths were all reported in Hubei province, said the commission.

Meanwhile, 99 new suspected cases were reported, including 47 in Hubei, said the commission.

Also yesterday, 1,678 people were discharged from hospital after recovery, while the number of severe cases decreased by 248 to 5,489.

The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 80,651 by the end of yesterday, including 22,177 patients who were still being treated, 55,404 patients who had been discharged after recovery, and 3,070 people who had died of the disease.

The commission added that 502 people were still suspected of being infected with the virus.

The commission said that 672,458 close contacts had been traced, adding that among them, 4,773 were discharged from medical observation yesterday, with 26,730 others still under medical observation.

By the end of yesterday, 107 confirmed cases had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including two deaths), 10 in the Macau Special Administrative Region and 45 in Taiwan (including one death).

Some 51 patients in Hong Kong, 10 in Macau and 12 in Taiwan have been discharged from hospital after recovery.

Editor: Xia Ruirui