Lanzhou, Gansu province, is imposing strict control measures for one week on districts affected by COVID-19. The effort started on Tuesday, a senior official said.

Under the measures, residents in areas at high or medium risk are required to stay at home. Those in low-risk areas are being asked to go out to purchase necessary goods only once a day.

Yang Dezhi, deputy mayor of Lanzhou, said the coronavirus situation in the city is still grim and complex, and the government is going all out to fight it and protect residents' safety and health.

Yang made the remark at a news conference on Wednesday, as the metropolis reported 14 confirmed cases, plus 44 asymptomatic carriers, in the 24 hours ending at 10 am.

The latest cases have pushed the city's total number of COVID-19 patients to 24 and asymptomatic carriers to 119 in this round of the outbreak, the city's health commission said.

As of Tuesday, the province had reported 19 COVID-19 patients and 114 asymptomatic carriers in the latest round, the statement said.

All confirmed patients and asymptomatic carriers have been sent to designated hospitals for treatment, it said.