From a trickle to dozens, the daily new increase of imported COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland has maintained double-digit growth for 28 straight days, as the latest data update from the National Health Commission shows.

Over the course of Friday, 42 additional imported cases and another four locally transmitted infections were counted on the Chinese mainland. To date, the caseload of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus has reached 81,953.

So far the Chinese mainland has recorded a total of 1,183 confirmed imported cases.

There are now 44 suspected cases on the Chinese mainland. All eight suspected cases counted on Friday are imported ones, it added.

It said, with a surge of 34 asymptomatic cases, including seven imported ones, in the 24 hours ending Friday midnight, 1,092 people carrying the virus but showing no symptoms are still under medical observation and 338 of them are imported ones.

As of Friday midnight, a total of 3,339 people have died of the pathogen and three of the deaths occurred on the day. All the additional fatalities happened in Hubei province -- the hardest-hit region on the Chinese mainland.

Another three people exhibiting serious symptoms saw their condition improve over the course of Friday, bringing the number of such patients down to 141.

It also said 1,089 patients are still being hospitalized, a daily drop of 70 from the course of Thursday. Among the patients still under treatment, 734 are imported cases.

Of the 718,050 people that have been traced as close contacts with the infected, 10,435 are still under medical observation, it added.

Hubei province has reported no further confirmed and suspected cases on Friday. But most of the patients showing serious symptoms on the Chinese mainland are from the province. Among the 320 patients that are still hospitalized in the province, 95 people need intensive care, the commission said.

The Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan have reported a total of 1,416 confirmed cases, including four deaths in Hong Kong and six deaths in Taiwan, the commission noted.

Meanwhile, 410 recovered patients in these regions have been discharged from hospitals.