XI'AN — Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan has urged swift virus containment measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Xi'an, capital city of Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during her inspection in Xi'an starting on Dec 19.

The Chinese mainland on Dec 21 reported 57 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, including 53 in Shaanxi, according to the National Health Commission. The latest epidemic resurgence in Xi'an, triggered by imported infections, has spread to its 14 district-level areas and seen community transmission, making the virus containment situation grave and complicated.

Sun said it is imperative to ensure that all those infected and their close contacts are tested, quarantined or hospitalized, and urged efforts to cut off the transmission channels and improve the efficiency and quality of nucleic acid testing.

Sun also stressed the importance of tightening restrictions on the movement of people to avoid gathering in key areas and places.

A total of 135,000 students will sit for the postgraduate exam in Xi'an this weekend. The vice-premier demanded careful preparation to ensure the safety of teachers and students.