The number of Covid-19 cases is continuing to mount in Xinjiang, with health authorities reporting 36 new infections as of Sunday – all in the regional capital Urumqi.

The regional health commission said on Monday that it believes 28 patients contracted the virus locally. It also reported eight new asymptomatic cases in the city.

By Sunday, the commission said Xinjiang had confirmed a total of 706 coronavirus cases, including asymptomatic ones. Some 15,000 people, it said, remain under observation.

Infections continued to rise even though Urumqi curtailed most incoming flights and shut down subway and public bus services in mid-July when new cases started to emerge.

In all, the mainland has reported more than 84,000 infections and 4,634 deaths.

Outside of Xinjiang, health authorities reported eight new confirmed cases in Liaoning province, and three new suspected imported infections in Shanghai.