16 new local COVID-19 cases confirmed in Heilongjiang

Heilongjiang province reported 16 new locally transmitted confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 12 new local asymptomatic carriers on Wednesday, according to the province's health commission.

Among the 16 confirmed, 13 were reported in Wangkui county in Suihua city and the other three were reported in Harbin, the province's capital city.

Among the 12 asymptomatic cases, four were reported in Suihua, seven were reported in Qiqihar and the other one was reported in Yichun.

All the patients were related to Wangkui, where the first asymptomatic case was reported on Sunday in the recent outbreak, the commission said.

Dawufuma village in Qiqihar has been classified as a medium-risk area for COVID-19 starting on Wednesday, according to the city's epidemic prevention and control headquarters.

Neighboring Jilin province reported seven new local asymptomatic carriers in the cities of Changchun and Tonghua on Wednesday, according to the province's health commission.

Three of them came to Jilin from Heilongjiang recently and the other four were close contacts, the commission said.