655 virus patients remain in hospitals, more than 20,000 being watched

By the end of Friday, a total of 2,263 imported  patients had been reported in the mainland of China.

Of them, 2,084 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 179 remained hospitalized, with no one in serious condition. No deaths from among imported patients  had been reported.

As of Friday, the total number of confirmed patients in the mainland had reached 84,808, including 655 patients who were still being treated, with 36 in severe conditions. This total does not include Hubei and Wuhan patients.

Altogether 79,519 people had been discharged after recovery, and 4,634 had died of the disease in the mainland, excluding Wuhan and Hubei.

There were still three suspected patients in the mainland, it added.

According to the commission, 20,441 close contacts were still under medical observation after 1,905 were discharged on Friday.

Also on Friday, 20 new asymptomatic patients including 13 from outside the mainland, were reported, and one asymptomatic patients was re-categorized as a confirmed one.

The commission said 318 asymptomatic patients, including 175 from outside the mainland, were still under medical observation.