Residents take nucleic acid tests in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province on December 19, 2021. Photo: VCG

Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has rolled out COVID-19 prevention measures on public transportation on Sunday urging residents not to leave the city if not necessary and conducting city-wide nucleic acid testing. 

According to local press conference on the fight against COVID-19 on Sunday, travelers entering and leaving the city by car or bus are required to present a certificate of nucleic acid testing performed in the previous 48 hours.

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport limited travel on Sunday for passengers coming from medium or high risk areas within the city. People from other areas of the city can leave once they present the certificate of nucleic acid testing performed in the previous 48 hours.

Residents without a green code can be refused to ride buses and taxis and the city will conduct nucleic acid testing in all public places and transportation once the city-wide testing is finished, the local government said on Saturday.

On Saturday, the local government shut indoor recreation places, including bars, gyms, cinemas and Mahjong rooms, urging citizens not to leave the city if not necessary.

East China's Zhejiang Province said on Sunday at a press conference it has made progress in controlling the pandemic, stressing the scientific approach to the pandemic situation and the practical and organized implementation of prevention measures.

According to the national health commission, China reported a total of 44 confirmed local infections of COVID-19 on Saturday, with 31 cases in Zhejiang and 10 cases in Shaanxi.