Measures taken to manage asymptomatic coronavirus cases in China have proved to be effective, a health official said Wednesday.

China has strengthened the detection, report and management of asymptomatic coronavirus carriers, He Qinghua, an official with the National Health Commission, said at a press conference.

Asymptomatic cases refer to people who tested positive for the coronavirus but develop no symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat, but they are infectious and pose a risk of spreading to others.

As of Tuesday, a total of 6,764 asymptomatic cases of novel coronavirus infection, including 588 imported ones, had been reported on the mainland.

A total of 1,297 asymptomatic cases, of which 251 were imported, had been re-categorized as confirmed cases, while 4,444 cases including 109 imported ones had been discharged from medical observation.