Virus: Parts of Shijiazhuang labeled high-risk

Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, is fighting a severe coronavirus outbreak, as several cases have been identified in rural areas of the city, local health authorities.

As Thursday, Hebei had reported a total of 67 locally transmitted confirmed cases, with 55 cases found in Shijiazhuang, the health commission of the province said.

In the four days ending on Wednesday, local transmissions cases in Shijiazhuang had increased by 45. Most of the new cases have been linked to outbreaks in city's Hezhuang and Xihe villages in Shenze county.

Hezhuang has now been listed as a high-risk area, while Xihe village is middle risk, the statement said.

COVID-19 cases were reported in rural areas of Shijiazhuang at the beginning of the year.

Zhang Fengzhen, the city's vice-mayor, said the outbreak is still controllable, even though confirmed cases continued to be detected in the city's rural areas in recent days.

"All the city's new cases were detected only in isolated or sealed areas," Zhang said.