BEIJING — Nine COVID-19 patients were newly discharged from hospitals after recovery on the Chinese mainland on Dec 21, the National Health Commission said in a daily report Dec 22. 

There were 324 confirmed cases still being treated, including four in severe conditions, the report showed.

As of Dec 21, the Chinese mainland had reported a total of 86,867 confirmed COVID-19 cases, among whom 81,909 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery and 4,634 died of the disease.