Shanghai has reported three new coronavirus cases in Chinese nationals who caught the virus abroad, as the country’s health authorities warn of the number of imported cases increasing.

According to state media, all three new infections were found in students studying abroad in Iran and were confirmed on Friday.

A total of 17 new cases were confirmed in mainland China, outside the Hubei province, as of Thursday.

Chinese health officials told reporters the country must remain vigilant and keep up epidemic prevention and control measures as the number of imported cases has increased.

Mi Feng, an official with the National Health Commission, said there were a total of 36 imported COVID-19 cases in the country.

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He was quoted by Xinhua as saying: “We should continue to deepen international cooperation, share information and experience with the World Health Organisation and relevant countries in a timely manner, and jointly fight the epidemic.”

In Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, authorities plan to ease restrictions on the lockdown when the situation improves.

Ding Xiangying, vice secretary general at the State Council, told a media briefing on Friday in Wuhan that “winter had passed and the day everyone was looking forward to would not be far away”.

The announcement comes as the central province of Hubei, excluding its provincial capital Wuhan, reported zero new cases over 24 hours for the first time since the outbreak began.

The epidemic, which started at the end of 2019, has resulted in nearly 100,000 people infected with coronavirus and more than 3,300 deaths worldwide. Mainland China accounted for more than 3,000 deaths.