BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Nine new imported COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday on the Chinese mainland, bringing the total number of imported cases to 5,124.

Of the new imported cases, three were reported in Shanghai, two each in Guangdong and Sichuan, as well as one each in Henan and Shaanxi, the National Health Commission said in its daily report Friday.

Of the imported cases, 4,947 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery while 177 remained hospitalized, the commission said.