BEIJING — A total of 314 imported COVID-19 cases have been reported in 19 provincial-level regions across China as of March 21, a Chinese health official said on March 22.

Nine provinces have reported their first imported COVID-19 cases in the recent seven days while the number of origins of imported patients has increased from 12 to 22, Mi Feng, an official with the National Health Commission said at a press conference in Beijing.

By the end of March 21, Beijing had reported 97 imported cases and Shanghai and Guangdong province have both reported 56 imported cases, according to local health authorities.

Mi underscored the importance of implementing prevention and control measures in quarantine, transfer, treatment and isolation to curb the importation of COVID-19 cases as the pandemic outbreak is affecting over 180 countries and regions.