Shenyang city of Liaoning province announced the launch of the second round of nucleic acid testing in three districts in the past three days to further contain the spread the coronavirus, local health authority said on the morning of Jan 4.

All the residents in the three districts - Tiexi, Huanggu and Yuhong, will undergo the test, since testing is vital to control the spread and minimize the virus impact on economic and social development, said Mao Yinbai, spokesman of Shenyang Health Committee, on Monday.

Besides, the city will also carry out the first round of nucleic acid test in another four districts and counties in the suburb.

Shenyang, capital city of Liaoning province, reported five locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday.

By Sunday, the province had 77 confirmed cases in hospitals. Another 31 asymptomatic carriers were under quarantine and receiving treatment, according to the provincial health commission.