China’s Covid-19 cases drop to one; no cases reported in epicentre Hubei for almost a month

China’s Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus, have not reported any coronavirus case for 28 consecutive days since April 4, local health commission said on Saturday.

China, where the deadly coronavirus first emerged in December last, reported just one COVID-19 case, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Saturday. The death toll remained at 4,633 with no new fatality.

This photo taken on May 1, 2020 shows people wearing face masks as a precaution against the Covid-19 coronavirus as they dance under Wuhan Bridge in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province. (AFP)

As of Friday, the total confirmed cases on the mainland were 82,875. As many as 77,685 patients have been recovered, the NHC said. One new imported coronavirus case was reported on Friday with no new local infection, it said.

China has reported a total of 1,671 imported COVID-19 cases, including seven in critical condition.

The Hubei province and its capital Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, have not reported any coronavirus case for 28 consecutive days since April 4, local health commission said on Saturday. Hubei also lowered its COVID-19 emergency response from the highest level to the second-highest on Saturday. The lowering of the emergency level shows a major breakthrough in Hubei’s prevention and control against the coronavirus, Hubei Vice-Governor Yang Yunyan told media.

Asymptomatic cases refer to people who are tested COVID-19 positive but develop no symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat. However, they pose a risk of spreading the disease to others.