[Asia Economy Beijing=Correspondent Park Sun-mi] In China, 36 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and 7 additional deaths were reported in one day.
On the 1st, the National Health Commission of China announced that as of midnight, there were 36 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. Among them, 35 were imported cases infected overseas and entering China, while only 1 new case was newly infected within China (in Guangdong Province). The number of new COVID-19 deaths was 7. Six people died in Hubei Province, and one additional death was reported in Shanghai. The number of new suspected cases was 26, all of which were imported cases from overseas.
The total cumulative number of imported cases reported so far is 806. Among them, 115 have recovered and been discharged, and currently 691 are confirmed cases.
The cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 81,554. After subtracting 76,238 discharged patients and 3,312 deaths, 2,004 confirmed patients are currently receiving treatment in hospitals. The current number of suspected cases is 172, and the number of close contacts under medical observation is 20,314.
The National Health Commission also reported that 130 new asymptomatic infections were added in one day.
Currently, there are 1,366 asymptomatic infections in China. Asymptomatic infections refer to people who test positive for COVID-19 but do not show specific symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat. While many countries, including South Korea, include asymptomatic infections in their classification of confirmed COVID-19 cases, China has so far only separately counted asymptomatic infections without publicly announcing them.
From this day forward, China’s inclusion of asymptomatic infections in statistical announcements reflects concerns both inside and outside China that COVID-19 is still spreading due to infections from these cases. The National Health Commission stated that it will announce daily reports on asymptomatic infections and publicly disclose management status and other information. According to guidelines, Chinese medical institutions must report asymptomatic infections online within 2 hours of detection and complete epidemiological investigations and registration of close contacts within 24 hours. Not only asymptomatic infections but also close contacts are quarantined in designated accommodations for 14 days and receive medical observation.
Meanwhile, outside mainland China in the Greater China region, a total of 1,077 cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported: Hong Kong 714 (128 discharged, 4 deaths), Macau 41 (10 discharged), and Taiwan 322 (39 discharged, 5 deaths).
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