China has recorded the highest daily number of Covid cases since the start of the pandemic, despite strict measures designed to contain the virus.
Several major cities, including the capital Beijing and the southern commercial hub Guangzhou, are facing outbreaks.
31,527 cases were recorded on Wednesday, compared to April’s peak of 28,000.
The number is still very low for a country of 1.4 billion people, and just over 5,200 people have officially died since the pandemic began.
This equates to three Covid deaths per million in China, compared with 3,000 per million in the US and 2,400 per million in the UK, although direct comparisons between countries are difficult.
While China’s zero-covid policy has clearly saved lives, it has also dealt a devastating blow to the economy and the lives of ordinary people.
The country relaxed some of these restrictions a few weeks ago.
It reduced quarantine for close contacts from seven days in a state facility to five days and three days at home, and stopped recording secondary contacts, allowing many more people to avoid quarantine. found
Officials have also sought to avoid enforcing the blanket lockdown endured by the largest city, Shanghai, earlier this year.
But with Beijing facing a renewed surge in cases and the first deaths from the virus in months, authorities have already imposed some restrictions in several districts, with shops, schools and restaurants closed.
The central city of Zhengzhou is to impose an effective lockdown for its 6 million residents from Friday, officials announced.
It follows violent protests at a sprawling industrial complex owned by iPhone maker Foxconn. The firm has apologized for a “technical glitch” in its payment system.
