China sees outbreak's highest virus cases

China has reported its highest daily count for new coronavirus cases in its current outbreak, fuelled by a surge in locally transmitted infections.

China reported 124 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the mainland for August 5, according to the National Health Commission. That is up from 85 a day earlier.

Of the new confirmed infections, 80 were locally transmitted, the health authority said on Friday, up from 62 local cases a day earlier.

The local cases were driven by a surge in infections in eastern Jiangsu province, which reported 61 new cases for August 5, up from 40 a day earlier. The new infections were mainly in the city of Yangzhou.

Overall, China reported 58 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases, which it does not classify as confirmed infections, compared with 54 a day earlier.

No new deaths were reported.

As of August 5, mainland China has recorded 93,498 confirmed cases. The cumulative death toll is unchanged at 4636.