Following the new wave of COVID-19 cases reported during the past two days in the border city Ruili of Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture in Yunnan province, the prefecture started large-scale vaccination on April 1.

Residents in four counties, including capital Mangshi and Yingjiang, can get vaccinated starting Thursday, and residents in Ruili can get jabs after their home quarantine finishes,the prefectural government said.

Li Yue, 25, a teacher who lives in Ruili, is staying at home for quarantine since all schools in the urban areas suspended classes on Wednesday. Students continue their study via online platforms.

"I will go get a vaccine after the quarantine to get protection. After all, we live in a border area, which features a high risk of being infected," Li said.

Yang Ensheng, 29, who lives in Ruili, received the first dose on Dec 29 because he works at Wanting Port,a higher risk profession.

"Half of my colleagues have received jabs and we have taken comprehensive measures to prevent risks," he said, adding the new COVID-19 cases have had little influence on his work and life.

Ruili city reported six new COVID-19 cases and 23 asymptomatic carriers on Wednesday, following six confirmed cases and three asymptomatic ones reported the day before, data from the center showed on Thursday.

The city has completed collecting samples for nucleic acid testing from all its people on Thursday morning.

Nan Miaoweng from Myanmar also received a nucleic acid test.

The 18-year-old has been living in Dehong for over four years without going back home. She moved to Ruili to work at a barbecue from Mangshi two months ago.

"It's very necessary to get tested. Local residents are very nice to us," she said.