Henan province sees new COVID cases

Henan province reported four new locally transmitted confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, along with 18 asymptomatic carriers, the provincial Health Commission reported on Wednesday.

Of the confirmed cases, one was found in Zhengzhou, one in Zhoukou and two in Xuchang. Of the asymptomatic carriers, nine were in Zhengzhou, one was in Zhoukou and eight were in Xuchang.

The coronavirus risk levels of two areas in Yuzhou, a county-level city under the administration of Xuchang, were classified as high as of Tuesday, the Yuzhou epidemic prevention and control headquarters said on Tuesday night.

The city completed the first round of testing covering 951,078 residents by noon on Tuesday, and a second round was launched.

Three transmission chains of the virus have been initially identified in Zhengzhou, one among mahjong players, one at a funeral gathering, and one among family members, officials said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Nearly 500 close contacts in Zhengzhou have been traced since the first two cased were identified on Monday.