China reported 24,435 new Covid-19 infections on November 19, of which 2,267 were symptomatic and 22,168 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Sunday.

That compared with 24,473 new cases a day earlier – 2,137 symptomatic and 22,336 asymptomatic infections, which mainland health authorities count separately.

Excluding imported infections, 24,215 new local cases were reported for Saturday, down slightly from 24,263 on Friday.

The NHC also reported that an 87-year-old man in Beijing had became the mainland's first fatality since May 26, raising China's Covid death toll to 5,227.

As of Saturday, the mainland had confirmed 286,197 coronavirus cases with symptoms.

Beijing reported 621 new infections, up from 515 on Friday, local government data showed.

But new Covid cases in Guangzhou dropped slightly to 8,434 on Saturday from 8,713 the day before, local authorities said.

Major manufacturing hub Zhengzhou also saw case numbers fall from 1,567 reported on Friday to 1,187.

Chongqing reported 4,710 infections on Saturday, compared with 4,744 a day earlier. (Reuters)