Forty-four new cases of novel coronavirus infection were confirmed on the Chinese mainland as of midnight on Saturday, with 27 more deaths, according to China's National Health Commission.

The total number of confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland stands at 80,695, while the cumulative death toll is now 3,097.

On the same day, the Chinese health authorities said that 1,661 patients had been discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 57,065.

Another three cases of infections contracted outside China were reported, bringing the total of cases originating elsewhere to 63.

The numbers of confirmed cases in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and China's Taiwan region are as follows:

Hong Kong: 109 (2 dead, 55 recovered)

Macao: 10 (10 recovered)

Taiwan: 45 (1 dead, 13 recovered)