China reports highest COVID-19 count since initial outbreak

China on Monday recorded the highest single-day number of infections since the outbreak in Wuhan at the start of the global pandemic.

There are 526 cases in the country, including 312 asymptomatic patients, according to Bloomberg.

Shanghai, which has had several significant outbreaks, has reported nearly 50 cases, while Qingdao has reported 163 cases, likely as a result of a spike in high school students.

China continues to implement its zero-tolerance protocols, which include widespread testing and intense lockdowns, strict policies the country has used to keep infection rates low throughout the pandemic.

China and Hong Kong are among the latest countries to still maintain strict COVID-19 policies after countries like Australia began to treat the virus as endemic.

Earlier this month, Hong Kong CEO Carrie Lam urged citizens not to panic as people flooded grocery stores in anticipation of a lockdown due to rising infections.

Lam said there will be no citywide lockdown and her administration is keen to remain calm as it plans a massive testing system.

As of Sunday, Hong Kong is reporting an average of 43,093 new infections each day, according to Reuters.

Updated: 23:32