On Thursday, Chinese Covid-19 cases continued to rise, with over 31,000 new cases reported. It produced a new record as the country struggles to maintain its strict zero-Covid policies for a third year after the initial emergence of the virus.

Official numbers on Thursday came in at 31,656 new cases over the previous 24 hours, which marked the highest daily rise since the country first began tracking the virus in late 2019.

Amid the new surge, the country has attempted to maintain its strict zero-Covid policies, designed to eradicate the virus entirely using aggressive lockdowns and extensive mass testing.

While China has managed to limited the spread of the virus, it has also prevented its population from encountering the virus, and developing a large well of natural immunity. Such natural immunity might have augmented its extensive vaccination levels and helped to stem the spread of the virus now, as the rest of the world has mostly successfully exited the pandemic and reopened its economies.

According to WHO data, China has registered 9.5 million Covid-19 cases since the beginning of 2020.

Meanwhile in China, the lockdowns are growing as well. Officials have initiated five-day long lockdowns in eight districts of Zhengzhou beginning on Thursday, allowing residents out only for medical reasons, and to purchase food.

Not all residents are supportive of the lockdown policies. In the city, videos are emerging of continued violent confrontations at the massive Foxconn factory which makes iPhones for Apple. The conflicts are reportedly over pay disputes among new employees, who are replacing employees who have fled or walked out.

In a statement, Foxconn said, “Regarding any violence, the company will continue to communicate with employees and the government to prevent similar incidents from happening again.”