BEIJING -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 25 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, including nine locally transmitted cases and 16 arriving from outside the mainland, the National Health Commission said on Dec 31.

Five of the locally transmitted cases were reported in northeast China's Liaoning Province, and two each in Beijing and Heilongjiang, the commission said in its daily report.

No new suspected cases or deaths related to the disease were reported Wednesday, said the commission.

Thirteen COVID-19 patients on the Chinese mainland were discharged from hospitals following recovery on Wednesday.

By the end of Wednesday, a total of 4,263 imported cases had been reported on the mainland. Among them, 3,990 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 273 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 87,052 by Wednesday, including 368 patients still receiving treatment.

A total of 82,050 patients had been discharged from hospitals following recovery on the mainland, and 4,634 had died as a result of the virus, according to the commission.

There were no suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland on Wednesday, and 13,615 close contacts remained under medical observation.