The recent COVID-19 outbreak in Anyang, Henan province, has reached a turning point, with confirmed cases beginning to decline, an expert told Health Times.

"We are confident that local residents will return to normal life before the upcoming Spring Festival," said Shang Jia, chief physician in the infectious disease department of Henan Provincial People's Hospital.

Data from the provincial Health Commission on Thursday showed 19 new locally transmitted cases in Anyang on Wednesday, with the number continuing to fall for a second day.

The province reported 24 cases on Wednesday, including one in Zhengzhou, 19 in Anyang and four in Xuchang.

As of Wednesday, the province had reported 974 cases in the recent outbreak, which started on Dec 31. Anyang had about half of those cases at 452.

In the provincial capital, Zhengzhou, the coronavirus risk in three residential communities was adjusted from medium to low, according to a statement released by the city's prevention and control headquarters on Thursday.