Beijing, China - Jan 13, 2021 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of press conference in progress
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Mi Feng, spokesman, National Health Commission:
"Since the beginning of 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has sped up its spread in the world and there have been 89.7 million confirmed cases, globally. The number of COVID-19 cases has grown fast at the same time in the southern and northern hemispheres. Many places in China have reported sporadic cases and cluster infections. The disease has stayed long, affected a wide area, been transmitted fast and hit more aged and rural people. Community and intergeneration transmissions have taken place in some places. It is a complicated and arduous task to prevent and control the disease."
3. Various of press conference in progress

Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, north China - Jan 12, 2021 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
4. People waiting in line to receive nucleic acid tests
5. Various of medical workers collecting people's samples

Beijing, China - Jan 10, 2021 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Residents waiting in line at testing site in Shunyi District
7. Medical workers
8. Residents having identity checked
9. Resident having swab samples taken, residents waiting in line

Wangkui County, Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province, northeast China - Jan 11, 2021 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Various of medical workers swabbing residents for nucleic acid tests

Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, north China - Jan 12, 2021 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
11. Various of epidemic control personnel disinfecting storefronts

The latest COVID-19 outbreak in China has lasted for a long time and affected a wide area, said Mi Feng, spokesman of the National Health Commission, at a press conference on Wednesday.

"Since the beginning of 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has sped up its spread in the world and there have been 89.7 million confirmed cases globally. The number of COVID-19 cases has grown fast at the same time in the southern and northern hemispheres," said Mi.

"Many places in China have reported sporadic cases and cluster infections. The disease has stayed long, affected a wide area, been transmitted fast and hit more aged and rural people. Community and intergeneration transmissions have taken place in some places. It is a complicated and arduous task to prevent and control the disease," Mi added.

The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 115 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, of whom 107 were locally transmitted and the rest arrived from outside the mainland, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.

Of the locally transmitted cases, 90 were reported in north China's Hebei Province, 16 in Heilongjiang Province and one in Shanxi Province, the commission said in its daily report.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 87,706 by Tuesday, including 784 patients still receiving treatment, with 21 in severe condition.