Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - On Wednesday, 138 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection were recorded in mainland China: 124 local and 14 imported from abroad, the State Health Committee of the People’s Republic of China said on Thursday.

About 81 cases of local infection were detected in Prov. Hebei, 43 - in prov. Heilongjiang, the ministry said in a daily report.

On Wednesday, there was one death from the disease in Prov. Hebei. No new patients were identified with suspected infection.

The situation in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic in China remains "difficult and difficult", spokesman for China’s State Health Committee, Mi Feng, said at a press conference on Wednesday.

According to him, numerous sporadic and cluster cases of COVID-19 infection have been recorded in the country. The latest outbreak of the coronavirus is long and widespread. 

Mi Feng noted an increase in the number of infections in rural areas and among the elderly.

With the approach of Chunyun, the seasonal migration of the population in the period before, during and after the Spring Festival / Chunjie / in China, it is expected to increase the passenger traffic. In this regard, "chunyun" will become a "serious test" for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic. The Committee called on the competent departments to take responsibility especially in the above-mentioned period, and also recommended that the residents of the country refrain from visiting crowded places and unnecessary travel.