Mainland authorities on Sunday reported 39,303 new Covid cases, including 3,648 symptomatic infections and 35,858 cases with no symptoms.

Guangdong province accounted for 1,386 of the symptomatic cases, followed by Beijing’s 747 infections and Chongqing’s 194 cases.

As for the asymptomatic patients, 8,667 were from Chongqing, 7,705 from Guangdong and 3,560 from Beijing.

One Covid-related death was reported in Chongqing.

As Covid figures continue to rise, authorities in Shenzhen announced that restaurants and other indoor venues in the city will only be allowed to run at half capacity from Monday.

Meanwhile, footage on social media appeared to show people from different parts of the mainland protesting against Covid curbs.

Videos purported to be taken in Beijing showed over a hundred people demanding authorities ease lockdowns and change the zero-Covid policy.

Protests have apparently intensified after a fire broke out in Urumqi on Thursday where at least 10 people died.

Critics have blamed lockdown measures for hindering residents from escaping, though the authorities have denied this.