China sees jump in virus cases from returning travelers

Mainland China reported a doubling of new coronavirus infections on Monday, primarily due to a significant increase in travelers returning from abroad with the virus.

The National Health Commission announced 78 new cases, with 74 of them being imported infections, a sharp rise from the previous day's figures.

Beijing recorded the highest number of imported cases with 31, followed by Guangdong province with 14 and Shanghai with nine.

Despite Beijing's stringent screening and quarantine measures, including diverting international flights, Chinese nationals, many of them students, continue to arrive from affected countries.

Four new local infections were reported, with one case in Wuhan, the original epicenter of the outbreak, ending a five-day streak of no new local transmissions there.

The total number of confirmed cases in mainland China reached 81,171, and the death toll stood at 3,277 as of Monday.