China confirms new coronavirus cases

On Tuesday, China's health authority reported 29 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 13 in the capital Beijing where 249 virus-affected people are undergoing treatment.

As of Monday, 99 asymptomatic cases were still under medical observation, it said. Beijing mass testing of millions of residents is on after a new cluster of cases emerged in late May.

Beijing reported 13 newly confirmed domestically-transmitted COVID-19 cases, two suspected infections, and one asymptomatic on Monday, the municipal health commission said on Tuesday.

From June 11 to 22, Beijing has reported 249 confirmed domestically-transmitted cases, all of whom were receiving treatment in hospitals.

Twenty-two asymptomatic cases are still under medical observation, it said. Xu Hejian, a spokesman for the municipal government, told the media on Monday that Beijing has effectively kept the coronavirus outbreak from spreading, and new local cases are decreasing as the capital uses multiple measures to reduce infections.

"Beijing has contained the spread of COVID-19 cases," Xu said, adding that the epidemic may be showing signs of abating.

However, strict measures will remain in place because ending the outbreak remains a complicated task.

By Monday, the overall confirmed cases in China had reached 83,418, including 359 patients who were still being treated, with 13 in severe condition.

Altogether 78,425 people had been discharged after recovery, and 4,634 people had died of the disease.