THE city of Qingdao in East China’s Shandong Province reported three new asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 yesterday, local health authorities said.

Two of the three cases, two males in their late 50s, tested positive for the virus when going to hospitals for treatment of other diseases, while the third one, a 53-year-old female, was a close contact of a confirmed case, according to the Qingdao Municipal Health Commission.

All the patients have been put under quarantine at a designated hospital.

Epidemiological investigations showed that all the three asymptomatic cases were associated with the Qingdao Chest Hospital, which has set up independent areas for treating imported cases of COVID-19, the commission said.

The specific source of infection is under further investigation.

The mainland reported 21 new imported COVID-19 cases Saturday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 3,008, the National Health Commission said yesterday.

Of the new imported cases, 10 were reported in Shanghai, six in Guangdong, three in Sichuan, and one each in Liaoning and Fujian, the commission said in its daily report.

Among all the imported cases, 2,790 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 218 remained hospitalized, with no one in severe condition, the commission said.

No deaths have been reported from the imported cases.

(Xinhua)