Daily new imported COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland have maintained double-digit growth for 32 straight days. Though the growth is below 50 most of the time, it has been in high double-digits for the past three consecutive days, denting optimism that the epidemic is grinding to a halt in the country, as shown by a daily update from the National Health Commission.

According to the commission, 89 additional imported cases and another three locally transmitted infections were counted on the Chinese mainland over the course of Monday.

To date, the cumulative case count of infections has reached 82,249, and 1,464 of them are imported cases, it said.

There are now 72 suspected cases on the Chinese mainland. All three suspected cases counted on Monday came from abroad.

With a surge of 54 asymptomatic cases, including five imported ones, in the 24 hours ending Monday at midnight, 1,005 people carrying the virus but showing no symptoms are still under medical observation, and 237 of these cases are imported.

No further deaths occurred on Monday. So far, a total of 3,341 people have died of the pathogen.

Another five people exhibiting serious symptoms were released from intensive care over the course of Monday, bringing the number of such patients down to 116.

The commission also said 1,170 patients are still being hospitalized, a daily drop of 75. Among patients still under treatment, 905 are imported cases.

Of the 720,544 people that have been traced as close contacts with the infected, 8,612 are still under medical observation.

Hubei province has reported no further confirmed or suspected cases on Monday. Most patients showing serious symptoms on the Chinese mainland are from the province. Among the 219 patients still hospitalized in the province, 69 people need intensive care.

The Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan province have reported a total of 1,447 confirmed cases, including four deaths in Hong Kong and six deaths in Taiwan.

In those regions, 524 recovered patients have been discharged from hospitals.