China has reported no new locally transmitted coronavirus infections for the previous day and a small reduction in new cases involving travellers from overseas.
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China has temporarily suspended the entry of foreign nationals with valid Chinese visas and residence permits, effective from Saturday. Airlines have also been ordered to sharply cut international flights from Sunday.
That's due to Beijing's worries over the risk posed by imported cases of the virus after widespread lockdowns within China helped bring domestic transmissions under control.
A commentary in the Communist Party's official People's Daily newspaper on Saturday reflected the concern.
"At this time, we must be extremely vigilant and cautious, and we must prevent the post-epidemic relaxation from coming too soon, leading to the loss of all our achievements," it said.
China's National Health Commission said on Saturday that 54 new coronavirus cases were reported on the mainland on Friday, all involving imported cases. There were 55 new cases a day earlier, one of which was transmitted locally.
China's total number of infections now stands at 81,394, with the death toll rising by three to 3,295, the commission said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told US President Donald Trump on Friday that China would support US efforts to fight the coronavirus.
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States rose by at least 16,000 on Friday to nearly 102,000, the most of any country.
Australian Associated Press
