Mainland China reports nine new COVID-19 cases versus 12 a day earlier

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Mainland China reported nine new COVID-19 cases as of Sept. 16, down from 12 reported a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Thursday.

The National Health Commission said in a statement all new cases were imported infections involving travellers from overseas. The number of new asymptomatic patients also fell to 14 from 16 a day earlier, though China does not count these patients as confirmed cases.

Total of confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China now stands at 85,223, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.

(Reporting by Jing Wang and Engen Tham; writing by Se Young Lee; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)