Closed management has now been introduced in 36 universities and colleges in Fuzhou, Fujian province, and online teaching has been launched, a senior educational official from the eastern metropolis said.

In addition, nucleic acid testing has been launched on campuses according to relevant COVID-19 prevention and control policies to help fight against the pandemic among teachers and students, said You Xin, director of the Fuzhou education bureau, at a news conference on Wednesday.

Under the city's COVID-19 prevention and control measures, university and college staff and students living on campus are not allowed to leave, while those who are now living outside their universities and colleges have been banned from entering the campuses in principle, You said.

Classes for students at local high schools, primary schools and kindergartens were suspended in the city's nine districts and suburban counties between Tuesday and Sunday.

All schools and training institutions have been ordered to carry out online teaching to help prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 in Fuzhou.

"Only those with a green health code are allowed to attend the teacher qualification examination that will take place in the city on Saturday," You said.

Fuzhou reported 58 locally transmitted asymptomatic carriers on Tuesday, pushing the city's total number of local COVID-19 infections to 128 as of Tuesday.

Authorities said all infected people have been sent to designated hospitals for further medical observation and treatment.

Meanwhile, a makeshift hospital was built in the city's Olympic sports center, which is ready to open, local authorities said.