21 new local COVID-19 cases in China

In the past 24 hours, China reported 21 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, including 11 in Inner Mongolia and 5 each in Beijing and Shanghai.

Shanghai reported five locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and nine asymptomatic cases on Friday.

The National Health Commission said Saturday that 304 COVID-19 patients were discharged from mainland hospitals on Friday.

Friday, 217,414 COVID-19 patients on the Chinese mainland were discharged from hospitals after recovering.

China's "Zero-Covid" approach, which the authorities credited with ending the pandemic, is failing as quickly accumulating cases force major lockdowns like in 2020.

Despite having hospital beds and antiviral medications, the Hong Kong Post reports that most seniors over 60 had not been vaccinated.