Coronavirus: China reports 96 new cases as it battles Delta variant
- More than a third of infections reported on Sunday are in Jiangsu province, the source of the latest wave
- Flood-hit Zhengzhou also battens down, with 24 more confirmed patients
The National Health Commission said 81 of the new cases – recorded for Saturday – were locally transmitted and 15 were imported.
In addition, 30 new asymptomatic cases were recorded, while 555 asymptomatic patients remained under medical observation, the commission said.
The cases take the national total of confirmed Covid-19 infections to 93,701, with the death toll unchanged at 4,636.
03:18
Mass Covid-19 testing under way across China amid rising infections fuelled by Delta variant
Fifteen officials in Nanjing have been punished over their roles in the outbreak, including three airport officials responsible for overall management, emergency work and ground service at the facility who are being investigated for dereliction of duty.
Eight officials in Yangzhou have also been punished for dereliction of duty, according to Yangzhou’s Communist Party discipline inspection authority. It said inadequate management of the latest wave allowed one resident to infect 23 others.
Coronavirus: Beijing tightens travel restrictions to keep Delta variant at bay
Most of the confirmed and asymptomatic Covid-19 patients in Zhengzhou were related to the Sixth People’s Hospital, a facility designated to treat overseas arrivals who are infected with Covid-19.
05:33
Covid-19 Delta variant: how infectious it is and how it may ‘shift thinking’ on countries reopening
An official from the NHC’s disease control and prevention bureau said on Thursday that China had contained the Delta variant once before in Guangzhou, and could do it again if containment measures were strictly enforced.
In the capital Beijing, authorities have tightened travel restrictions, banning visitors from coronavirus hotspots as they try to keep Delta at bay.