BEIJING — The Chinese mainland on Dec 15 reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said on Dec 16.

A total of 12 imported COVID-19 cases were reported across the mainland on Dec 15, the commission said in its daily report.

One new suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shandong. No new deaths related to the disease were reported.

A total of nine COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on the Chinese mainland on Dec 15.

By the end of Dec 15, a total of 4,061 imported cases had been reported on the mainland. Among them, 3,795 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 266 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 86,770 by Dec 15, including 315 patients still receiving treatment.

A total of 81,821 patients had been discharged from hospitals following recovery on the mainland, and 4,634 had died of the virus, according to the report.

There were three suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland as of Dec 15, and 6,898 close contacts remained under medical observation.

Nine newly asymptomatic cases were reported on Dec 15 on the mainland. On the same day, one imported asymptomatic case was re-categorized as a confirmed one.

A total of 199 asymptomatic cases were under medical observation, out of which 181 were imported cases, the commission said.

By the end of Dec 15, 7,721 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 123 deaths, had been reported in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), while 46 confirmed cases had been reported in Macao SAR, and 742 cases, including seven deaths, in Taiwan.

Altogether 6,345 COVID-19 patients in Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, while 46 had been discharged from hospitals in Macao SAR, and 611 in Taiwan.