An epidemic prevention staff member processes a protective goggle at Karasu port of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 16, 2020.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
The National Health Commission under China's State Council, the cabinet, has sent a working group to instruct the epidemic prevention work in Yili prefecture, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, after two silent cases were detected there on Sunday.

Two asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were found in Horgos, a port city administrated by Yili prefecture of Xinjiang, which borders Kazakhstan, during a regular nucleic acid testing conducted every three days in accordance with an order from the national health commission, the Xinjiang Daily reported.

Horgos has quarantined 192 close contacts, with contact tracing and massive nucleic acid testing for high-risk groups now underway.

By 24:00 pm Sunday, except for the 2 asymptomatic cases detected in Horgos city, local officials found no positive cases. They will continue to implement a large-scale nucleic acid testing in the city on Monday.

According to the order of Yili prefecture's epidemic prevention department, tourists should not leave the region for the time being. Flights in several Xinjiang airports were canceled on Sunday night, the Beijing Youth Daily reported, in a precaution measure to prevent potential virus-carriers from spreading the disease to other provinces and cities in China.