China reports 138 new Covid-19 cases

Beijing: China has reported a new Delta strain sub-lineage of the coronavirus resulting in a spike in COVID-19 infections in Zhejiang Province which registered 138 locally-transmitted confirmed cases. This is the first time China has reported the new strain of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, state TV reported. 

The new Delta strain "sub-lineage AY.4" has prompted authorities to bar millions of people in the eastern province from traveling. Zhejiang Province has registered 138 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and one asymptomatic carrier between December 5-12, amid the latest COVID-19 resurgence, the state-run news agency reported on Sunday.

The whole-genome sequencing and analysis found that the cases in the three cities were caused by the Delta strain sub-lineage AY.4, which is stated to be more transmissible and carries a higher viral load than the original novel coronavirus, the



report quoted an official with the Zhejiang provincial center for disease control and prevention as saying. 

Local authorities have imposed restrictions on public gatherings and traveling out of the province to prevent the virus from spreading further, it said. The province has a 64.6 million population.

The Chinese mainland recorded 101 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, with 80 linked to local transmissions and 21 from overseas, data from the National Health Commission showed on Monday, as reported by state TV. 

The spurt of coronavirus cases came ahead of the February 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics causing anxiety among the officials. China, which has effectively stopped international travel, has been reporting sporadic bursts in the number of COVID-19 cases raising questions on its zero-case policy of coronavirus.