Mainland China has reported 42 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily toll in more than two months due to a rise in infections in the northwestern Xinjiang region.
Of the new cases, 22 in the city of Kashgar in Xinjiang were previously asymptomatic patients, the country's health authorities said on Wednesday.
Regional officials also reported another 19 symptomless infections, which China does not recognise as confirmed COVID-19 cases, which accounted for half the new asymptomatic cases reported.
The daily toll marks the highest since 44 confirmed infections were reported on August 10.
However the number remains far off the peaks in February at the height of the outbreak in mainland China that forced the country into a virtual standstill.
Kashgar health officials said the COVID-19 testing drive for the 4.75 million people in the area was completed as of Tuesday afternoon and that a total of 183 people were confirmed to have been infected.
The cases are linked to a garment factory, though it's not yet clear how the infections began.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in mainland China now stands at 85,868, while the death toll remains unchanged at 4634.
Australian Associated Press