China's ruling Communist Party remains committed to a “zero-COVID” strategy that aims to isolate every case and eliminate the virus entirely.

Video. China expands lockdowns as COVID-19 cases hit daily record

Pandemic lockdowns are expanding across China as the number of new COVID-19 cases rose by 31,444 on Thursday. The daily caseload has been steadily increasing. Meanwhile authorities reported China’s first COVID-19 deaths in six months this week, bringing the total to 5,232.