China has reported over 1,000 new local Covid-19 infections, the highest daily count since Beijing contained its first national outbreak in early 2020, driven by a jump in asymptomatic infections amid the spread of the Omicron variant.
China detected 703 domestically transmitted asymptomatic infections, according to data from the health authority, up from 435 a day earlier.
That marks a sharp increase from a daily average of about 10 such cases in the first two months this year, Reuters calculations showed.
Another 397 local symptomatic cases, which China classifies separately from symptomless infections, were reported, the National Health Commission said.
