China has reported a fall in new COVID-19 infections as the number of cases in two of the provinces particularly hard hit by the latest coronavirus wave fell to single digits, official data shows.
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A total of 82 confirmed cases were reported in the mainland on Monday, the National Health Commission said in a statement, down from 124 cases a day earlier.
Authorities in China have rolled out an aggressive package of countermeasures including home quarantines, travel curbs and mass testing this month in a bid to contain what has been the worst wave in the country since March.
The outbreak also comes ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday break when millions of people travel, adding to authorities' sense of urgency.
Most of the new cases during the current wave have been found in Jilin, Heilongjiang and Hebei, which surrounds Beijing. All three provinces have rolled out some of the most stringent measures to date in China as a result.
The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not count in its tally of confirmed cases, rose to 57 from 45 cases a day earlier.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China stands at 89,197. The death toll rose by one to 4636, marking the first increase since January 13.
Australian Associated Press
