BEIJING — A total of 504 patients of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were discharged from hospital on March 21 on the Chinese mainland, according to the National Health Commission.

Altogether 72,244 patients had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of March 21, the commission said in its daily report on March 22.

As of March 21, a total of 81,054 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 had been reported on the mainland, and 3,261 people had died of the disease.