The Chinese mainland recorded 78 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday – 68 local transmissions and 10 from overseas, data from the National Health Commission (NHC) showed on Friday. 

In addition, 42 new asymptomatic cases were recorded, while 426 asymptomatic patients remain under medical observation.

Confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland now total 97,605, with the death toll unchanged at 4,636.

The latest tally of confirmed cases in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan region is as follows:

Hong Kong: 12,359 (12,035 recoveries, 213 deaths)

Macao: 77 (75 recoveries)

Taiwan: 16,430 (13,742 recoveries, 847 deaths)