China reports lowest daily rise in COVID-19 cases in more than two weeks

SHANGHAI: China recorded its lowest daily increase in COVID-19 cases in more than two weeks, official data showed on Wednesday (Jan 27), suggesting aggressive measures implemented to curb a resurgence of the disease are working.

The National Health Commission said 75 new confirmed cases were reported on Tuesday, down from 82 a day earlier, and the lowest single-day rise since Jan 11.

Fifty-five of the new cases were local transmission, with the remaining 20 were classified as imported cases.

READ: China's peak Chinese New Year air travel season fizzles as COVID-19 cases rise

More than half the locally transmitted cases were reported in the northeastern Heilongjiang province. Fourteen cases were reported in neighbouring Jilin province, seven in Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, and four in the capital itself.

Authorities across the country have rolled out measures including home quarantine, travel curbs and mass testing in a bid to contain the disease ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday in February, when hundreds of millions of people usually travel.

Government officials have repeatedly urged people to refrain from taking unnecessary trips and stay put during the holiday break. Those who press on with their trips must present a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result taken seven days before returning home.

READ: Fearing COVID-19, Chinese tourists opt for new year close to home

New asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, rose to 61 from 57 a day earlier.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China now stands at 89,272. The death toll remains at 4,636.

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