(Yicai Global) March 6 -- Shanghai confirmed three new cases of the novel coronavirus today among patients who had all traveled from Iran, bringing the eastern Chinese megacity's overall total to 342, its health commission said at a press conference today.

The trio were among four arrivals from the Islamic Republic turned up by the city's customs this week who came up positive in nucleic acid tests and are undergoing medical observation and quarantine. The fourth was confirmed as having the Covid-19 infection yesterday in the first imported case logged in Shanghai.

All the patients were students in Iran who departed Tehran and flew into Pudong International Airport on March 2 and March 3, respectively, after layovers in Bangkok, Thailand.

Shanghai also saw three more recovered cases leave hospital today, and its tally of discharged patients now stands at 306. The city had cleared 2,472 suspected infections as of noon, while another 44 were still undergoing further tests.

Editor: Ben Armour