China reports its highest number of local COVID cases since January

China reported this Sunday 158 new cases of coronavirus transmitted locally, the highest daily number of infections since last January, this due to an outbreak in Shaanxi province that represents one of the government’s greatest challenges to its Zero COVID policy.

Among the cases reported this Sunday by the National Health Commission, 157 were found in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, and a person without symptoms was found in the province of Guangxi.

The latest number of new daily local infections it is close to the maximum level of the wave at the end of January.

Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province known for its terracotta warriors, has become the latest trouble spot in China, making eradication of the virus central to its COVID approach.

China recently punished local officials in the city for failing to curb an outbreak that led to the largest lockdown since COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan and continues to spread after more than two weeks.

The world’s second-largest economy remains locked in a protracted battle against coronavirus as it prepares to host the Winter Olympics in February. While most of the world is now focused on the potential damage of the novel omicron variant, China remains dedicated to the increasingly difficult task of containing the virus and restoring its Zero COVID status, using strict restrictions, mass testing, quarantines and selective closures.

China has been constantly battling the outbreaks since mid-October, the last time it reported no domestic infections.