A total of 30 COVID-19 cases have been identified as Omicron sublineages XBB and BQ, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) said on Saturday. 

The data came from 20,551 valid sequences of COVID-19 cases submitted between December 1, 2022 and March 2, 2023. 

The China CDC said that the major virus strains circulating in the country are still the Omicron variants, BA.5.2.48 and BF.7.14.

The country recorded zero COVID-19 related deaths at its hospitals between February 24 and March 2.

(Cover: CFP)