Nation reports its highest daily case total in 3 months

In Dalian, Liaoning province, the city's latest COVID-19 outbreak has affected a high proportion of young people and has involved many asymptomatic cases, a city health official said at a news conference on Wednesday.

"In light of that, we have been evaluating cases in a timely manner and adjusting treatment solutions accordingly," said Zhao Lian, deputy director of the Dalian Health Commission.

Data from the commission show among the 44 confirmed cases that have been reported as of Monday, two are under 30 years old; 16 from 31 to 40; 18 from 41 to 50; six from 51 to 60; and two above 70.

"It might be partly because most of the confirmed cases are employees of the seafood processing company. The younger patients are in mild and moderate condition," said Zhang Yongli, chief physician in the intensive care unit of the Dalian Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital, who is supporting staff at Dalian Sixth People's Hospital, the designated medical facility.

The port city announced eight new infections on Tuesday, all involving people previously identified as asymptomatic carriers. The total number of confirmed cases has climbed to 52 in the past week. Thirty-four asymptomatic cases are under medical observation, Zhao said.

Beijing reported one new local COVID-19 case related to Dalian on Tuesday, according to the Beijing Municipal Health Commission on Wednesday afternoon. So far, two local cases related to Dalian have been reported in Beijing, including one that was reported on Monday.

Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference on Wednesday that the latest patient is a 34-year-old man who is the son-in-law of the case reported on Monday.

By noon on Wednesday, 606 residents living in the same building as the two cases received their test results, with all showing negative results, according to Wu Bin, deputy head of Changping district, where the community is located.