The mainland reported five new Covid-19 deaths for December 19, compared with two the previous day, increasing the nation's fatalities to 5,242 the National Health Commission said on Tuesday.

The country reported 2,656 new local Covid cases, up from 1,918 a day earlier.

As of December 19, mainland China had confirmed 383,175 cases with symptoms.

Mainland authorities have stopped reporting asymptomatic cases, citing a lack of testing among people with no symptoms that was making it difficult to accurately tally the total count.

The two deaths reported on Monday were the first since Covid restrictions were loosened. (Additional reporting by Reuters)