Title: China Reports Record Surge in COVID-19 Cases

Chinese authorities have reported a record increase in COVID-19 infections, with the official data released today on Thursday showing 31,656 new cases in the past day alone. The National Health Commission also announced one death due to COVID-19 during the same period, bringing the total number of virus-related deaths in the country to 5,232. The spread of COVID-19 in China has accelerated significantly in recent days, particularly in the southern province of Guangdong (which accounts for about 35% of cases in recent weeks), followed by the city of Chongqing and the central province of Henan.