BEIJING -- The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 158 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Friday.

Altogether 638 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified.

A total of 279 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on the Chinese mainland on Thursday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals after recovery to 247,561.

Thursday saw no new deaths from COVID-19, with the total death toll at 5,226.