File photo: Xinhua

Dalian, a coastal city in Liaoning province, will launch novel coronavirus screening for 190,000 people in response to new local COVID-19 cases reported in the city on July 22 after a clear record of more than 100 days.

Luo Weixing, deputy secretary-general of the Dalian city government, said at a news conference on July 23 that the city will conduct nucleic acid testing for people living in areas related to confirmed cases and where mobile transmission is possible.

Dalian reported two more local COVID-19 cases and 12 asymptomatic infections on July 23, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to three.

The new cases were found after the first case was reported on July 22, prompting the city to launch an epidemiological investigation into the patient's close contacts. All the new asymptomatic infections are co-workers of the first confirmed case at a seafood processing factory, local health authorities said on July 23.

Zhao Lian, deputy director of the Dalian Health Commission, said the factory's seafood processing plant, cold storage and 18 directly operated stores had been closed. Some of the food and environmental samples that tested positive for the novel coronavirus were collected in the factory's workshops, office buildings, dormitories, catering rooms, toilets and other places.

By July 21, Dalian had gone 111 days without a reported COVID-19 case.

On July 23, the city suspended on-site recruitment activities and shut down various cultural, entertainment and sports venues, including cinemas, museums, gymnasiums and swimming pools, with reopening times to be determined.

Cinemas around the country had just been allowed to reopen on July 20. Only a small part of Dalian's cinemas had started operations before July 22.

As one of the two host cities for the long-delayed 2020 Chinese Super League, which is set to kick off on July 25, Dalian has taken stricter anti-epidemic measures.

Luo said all members of the eight teams had tested negative and checked into the designated hotel at the "blue zone" sealed off for the games, and all service personnel also tested negative.

By July 17, the competition venue, training venue and hotel in the zone had been sealed off.

"We will step up communication and coordination with the Chinese Football Association and strengthen scientific research and judgment in light of the development of the epidemic," Luo said.

The 16 teams of the 2020 CSL have been split into two groups to play in a tournament-style league from July 25 to Sept 28 in Dalian and Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

Separately, in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Urumqi reported 18 local cases and 24 asymptomatic cases for July 22.

Zhang Wei, head of city's health commission, said at a virus prevention and control conference on July 23 that the city has completed nucleic acid testing for more than 1.6 million people, including all the residents in Tianshan district－where most confirmed cases were reported－as well as in Shaybak district, since the city started free, citywide mass testing on July 18.

Zhang added that to ensure stable and timely treatment at hospitals, the city's medical services are operating with strict measures put in place.

"Medical workers and logistics personnel are working daily to ensure the smooth operation of our hospital," Guan Aijun, vice-president of People's Hospital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Urumqi, said at the conference on July 23.

"We have set up a 24-hour information hotline and smartphone app for appointment registration and medical service inquiries to avoid gatherings."

As of July 22, the region reported 82 confirmed cases, and 77 asymptomatic cases since the outbreak started on July 15.