China's Hubei clears asymptomatic COVID-19 cases

Central China's Hubei Province, once hard hit by COVID-19, had no COVID-19 patients or asymptomatic carriers undergoing treatment or quarantine by Thursday, the provincial health commission said on Friday.

The commission said the province's last asymptomatic case was discharged from medical observation on Thursday. Previous reports indicated that the case was in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.

No newly confirmed, asymptomatic or suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported in Hubei Thursday, the commission said.

By Thursday, four close contacts were still under medical observation.

Hubei cleared asymptomatic COVID-19 cases on June 30 as the final asymptomatic case was released from quarantine in the city of Ezhou.

However, three asymptomatic cases, including two arriving from overseas, were reported on July 3, and another new asymptomatic case was reported on July 7.

Hubei had reported a total of 68,135 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 63,623 cases had been cured and discharged from hospital. The disease has claimed 4,512 lives in the province.