On March 5, the Chinese port city of Qingdao reported 88 new coronavirus cases, all of which were of the omicron variety, contributing to China’s highest number of daily locally transmitted cases so far this year.

On Saturday, China registered 329 new coronavirus cases on the mainland, 175 of which were locally transmitted, according to the National Health Commission (NHC), up from 102 local cases the day before.

According to the Qingdao Municipal Health Commission, the incidence in Qingdao was primarily among middle school pupils in Laixi county.

A second round of mass testing will be implemented in Laixi county on March 7, a Qingdao official said at a press briefing on Sunday, adding that there was no significant risk of a new epidemic.

China’s COVID-19 “dynamic clearance” strategy tries to cut down transmission routes as soon as new cases are discovered.

According to the NHC, the Qingdao epidemic contributed to China’s total local confirmed case count reaching its highest level since December 31, with other cases recorded primarily in Jilin, Guangdong, and Hebei provinces.

A total of 209 additional asymptomatic cases, which China does not identify as confirmed cases, were reported, up from 166 the day before.

As of March 5, mainland China had reported 110,868 cases of COVID-19, including 4,636 deaths.

As of 0600 GMT on Sunday, the Qingdao health department had reported 27 new cases, all of which were among those already under quarantine in Laixi county.

On March 7, China’s total Sunday data will be announced.