China reports biggest surge in coronavirus cases since April

Sparking fears of a fresh wave of coronavirus, China reported 61 new COVID-19 cases on Monday (July 27) which is the highest daily figure since April.

The previous day recorded 46 coronavirus cases and the situation on Monday was worrisome as 57 cases were due to domestic transmission, which is the highest number of cases since March 6 when 75 local transmission cases were reported.

According to the National Health Commission, a bulk of 57 cases out of 61 was reported in the northwestern Xinjiang region, where a sudden outbreak in the regional capital of Urumqi occurred in mid-July.

A fresh cluster emerged in the city of Dalian in the northeastern province of Liaoning where 14 cases were reported. Following this Chinese authorities have rolled out mass testing in the port city of Dalian.

The outbreaks come as the Chinese Super League football tournament kicked off its much-delayed season on Saturday.

It is the highest daily tally of new virus cases since April 14, when 89 cases, mostly imported, were recorded.

As of Sunday, mainland China had 83,891 confirmed coronavirus cases, the health authority said. The COVID-19 death toll remained at 4,634.