HONG KONG (Reuters) – Mainland China reported 24 new COVID-19 cases on Oct. 31, down from 33 a day earlier, the country’s national health authority said on Sunday.
Of the new cases, 21 were imported infections originating from overseas. The National Health Commission said in a statement that three local infections were reported in the western region of Xinjiang.
The commission reported no new asymptomatic cases, down from 38 a day earlier. China does not count symptom-less patients as confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Total confirmed COVID-19 cases to date in mainland China stand at 85,997. The death toll remains at 4,634.
Health officials in Kashgar, Xinjiang, said the region is launching a second round of tests for everyone in Kashgar city and two adjacent counties, and selective testing of those who interacted with COVID-19 patients in other counties.
Kashgar completed a first round of COVID-19 testing drive for the 4.75 million people in the area earlier this week, when confirmed cases were linked to a garment factory.
(Reporting by Pei Li; Editing by William Mallard)
