(Yicai Global) March 18 --The Chinese mainland yesterday reported 12 new imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), bringing the total number of imported cases to 155, the National Health Commission said today.

Of the 12 new imported cases, five were reported in Guangdong province, three in Beijing, three in Beijing, and one in Sichuan, according to the commission.

The commission received reports of 13 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 11 deaths,all reported in Hubei, yesterday on the Chinese mainland, according to the commission.

Meanwhile, 21 new suspected cases were reported and 922 people were discharged from hospital yesterday after recovery, while the number of severe cases decreased by 208 to 2,622.

The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 80,894 by the end of yesterday, including 8,056 patients who were still being treated, 69,601 patients who had been discharged after recovery, and 3,237 people who had died of the disease.

According to the commission, 119 people were still suspected of being infected with the virus.

The commission said that 682,327 close contacts had been traced, adding that among them, 1,014 were discharged from medical observation yesterday, with 9,222 others still under medical observation.

By the end of yesterday, 167 confirmed cases had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including four deaths), 13 in the Macau Special Administrative Region and 77 in Taiwan (including one death).

Some 92 patients in Hong Kong, 10 in Macau and 22 in Taiwan have been discharged from hospital after recovery.

Editor: Tang Shihua