A reward of 10,000 yuan ($1,570) will be given to anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 if they take the initiative to get tested or truthfully report symptoms as they seek treatment at medical institutions, according to a statement released by the epidemic prevention and control headquarters of Harbin, Heilongjiang province on Thursday.

Harbin had three new locally transmitted confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, it said.

All the three cases were close contacts of a confirmed case reported previously in Manzhouli, a border city in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region under the jurisdiction of Hulunbuir.

Harbin started testing all local residents in the six districts in its downtown area at 8 am on Thursday.

Starting from Thursday, all kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools and vocational schools will be suspended for two days and provide online courses.