COVID-19 cases fewer than 500 on Chinese mainland: official

The number of existing confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland has dropped below 500, a record low since Jan. 23, a Chinese health official said Monday.

A total of 481 COVID-19 patients remained hospitalized on the mainland, according to the daily report of the National Health Commission (NHC).

Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the NHC, told a press briefing in Beijing that China reported a total of 92 new imported confirmed cases in the past two weeks, fewer than the prior daily peak figure.

He however noted that there is need to remain vigilant to guard against the spread of the virus.