Hebei records 90 new confirmed cases

Hebei province reported 90 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and nine asymptomatic carriers, all locally transmitted, increasing its caseload to 553 and asymptomatic carriers still under medical observation to 195, according to the Health Commission of Hebei on Friday.

The new cases were confirmed in 24 hours on Thursday.

It also reported that three cases previously diagnosed as asymptomatic carriers were discharged from medical observation. On Thursday, 15 asymptomatic carriers were also released.

Another 12 coronavirus patients were discharged from the hospital on Thursday. They were the province's first recoveries since this year's outbreak started on Jan 2.

Among the 90 new confirmed cases, 84 are in Shijiazhuang, Hebei's capital city, and the rest are in Xingtai city.

Most new confirmed cases in Shijiazhuang are still in villages of Gaocheng district, with some having attended gatherings like weddings.

Many of them were identified positive after two or three times of negative nucleic acid tests, according to the commission.

Some of the new cases had worked at public places, like pharmacies and buses transfer stations, and there was also a housekeeper who had provided services at different households.

While most among the new cases are over 40 years old, there are also some children, with the youngest 1-year-old, and some in their 20s or 30s.

The province has reported new cases for 13 consecutive days since this new outbreak of COVID-19 started in the beginning of the year.