(Yicai Global) March 23 -- Chinese health authority said today it received reports of 39 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland yesterday, all imported from abroad.

Of the 39 imported cases, 10 were reported in Beijing, 10 in Shanghai, six in Fujian, six in Guandong, two in Shandong, two in Gansu, and one in Zhejiang, Henan and Chongqing respectively. By the end of yesterday, 353 imported cases had been reported, according to the National Health Commission.

Also yesterday, nine deaths and 47 new suspected cases were reported on the mainland with all the deaths reported in Hubei province.

The commission said 459 people were discharged from hospital after recovery yesterday, while the number of severe cases decreased by 96 to 1,749.

The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 81,093 by the end of yesterday, including 5,120 patients who were still being treated, 72,703 patients who had been discharged after recovery, and 3,270 people who died of the disease.

The commission said that 136 people were still suspected of being infected with the virus.

The commission added that 10,701 close contacts were still under medical observation and 661 people were discharged from medical observation yesterday.

By the end of yesterday, 317 confirmed cases had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including four deaths), 21 in the Macau Special Administrative Region and 169 in Taiwan (including two deaths).

Some 100 patients in Hong Kong, 10 in Macau and 28 in Taiwan have been discharged from hospital after recovery.

Editor: Xia Ruirui