BEIJING — A total of 590 patients of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were discharged from hospital on March 20 on the Chinese mainland, according to the National Health Commission.

Altogether 71,740 patients had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of March 20, the commission said in its daily report on March 21.

As of March 20, a total of 81,008 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 had been reported on the mainland, and 3,255 people had died of the disease.