BEIJING — Over 84 percent of the confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) reported on the Chinese mainland in the past week were imported cases, according to the health authorities.

The rapid spread of the disease around the globe has posed rising risks of imported cases to China, Mi Feng, an official with the National Health Commission, said at a press conference on March 19.

No new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported on the Chinese mainland on March 18, said the commission, adding that the 34 new cases on March 18 were all imported from abroad.

By the end of March 18, 189 imported cases had been reported, said the commission.