BEIJING -- Of all the school staff and students in China, the existing number of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases is one, the Ministry of Education said Tuesday.

There are currently 14 asymptomatic carriers of the novel coronavirus who are under medical observation, said Wang Dengfeng, an official with the ministry, at a press conference, while delivering a briefing on the epidemic situation in China's education circles.

By education circles, Wang meant 278 million students plus 17 million staff in all schools in China.

China's education circles reported a total of 43 imported COVID-19 cases, all of whom have been cured and discharged from hospital, the official added.