BEIJING — The Chinese health authority on April 3 demanded continued prevention efforts in communities, workplaces, and households to guard against an epidemic rebound as the country faces rising risks of imported COVID-19 cases.

"With a growing number of imported cases, China is still facing risks of sporadic locally-transmitted cases and even local outbreaks of COVID-19," said Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC), at a press conference.

The Chinese mainland reported 29 new imported cases on April 2, bringing the total number of imported cases to 870, the NHC said in a daily report.

The mainland also reported 12 new suspected cases April 2, all of which were imported, the report said.