The Chinese government said Wednesday that 101 infections with the new coronavirus have been newly confirmed in the mainland, the highest since April 12.

Many of the new infections have been detected in the far-western Xinjiang autonomous region, where many Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to be detained in internment camps, which China calls vocational training centers.

Out of the 101 infections, 89 cases were confirmed in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, prompting the city to declare a state of emergency and implement preventive measures, such as closing residential districts.

The daily figure represents only symptomatic patients. The number of new asymptomatic patients detected Tuesday was 27.

The virus that causes COVID-19 has so far sickened 84,060 people in mainland China and killed 4,634.


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