China recorded 61 new coronavirus cases on Monday, the highest spike the country has seen in a single day since April.

It is the highest daily tally of new virus cases since April 14, when 89 cases, mostly imported, were recorded.

57 new domestic cases were reported in the northwestern Xinjiang region, according to the National Health Commission. A sudden outbreak in the regional capital of Urumqi occurred in mid-July. Fourteen cases were also recorded in the northeastern province of Liaoning where new cases were registered in the city of Dalian last week. Two more local cases were found in the neighbouring province of Jilin near the North Korean border, the first since late May, a report by NDTV's syndicated feed stated.

The last four infections confirmed on Monday were imported from overseas. Chinese authorities are carrying out mass testing in the port city of Dalian and Urumqi.More than 2.3 million people in the city of 3.5 million have been tested so far.

The outbreaks come as the Chinese Super League football tournament started its delayed season on Saturday.

Presently, 302 asymptomatic cases in China are under medical observation as of Monday and there are currently 331 people ill with COVID-19 across the country, 21 in a severe condition.