The number of confirmed infections of the novel coronavirus on the Chinese mainland climbed to 68,500 as of Saturday at midnight, including 1,665 deaths, according to the National Health Commission.

Among them, 2,009 confirmed cases and 142 deaths were newly reported on Saturday, the commission said on Sunday morning.

A total of 1,918 suspected cases were reported on Saturday, bringing the total number of suspected cases on the Chinese mainland to 8,228.

The number of confirmed cases rose to 56 in Hong Kong, including one death and one recovery, as well as 10 in Macao and 18 in Taiwan, with three patients and two patients discharged from hospital after recovery respectively, the commission said.

A total of 9,419 people have been discharged from hospitals on the mainland as of Saturday at midnight, the commission said.