A volunteer is delivering necessities to a local resident in a community under lockdown in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. Photo: VCG

Local authorities in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, will closely monitor the prices of key commodities while seriously handling illegal activities, such as hoarding and price gouging, in a bid to ensure a stable market amid the latest outbreak of COVID-19, officials said on Sunday. 

Currently, the daily supply of vegetables for Xi'an can reach 13,000 tons as five large wholesale vegetable markets and 41 renovated marketplaces are operating normally, while 416 stores of 13 large supermarkets and 1,437 convenience stores are staying open as well as delivery and supply of goods, local officials said at a press briefing on Sunday, China Central Television reported.  

Meanwhile, reserves of coal, electricity, oil and gas are sufficient and can fully meet the city's operational needs. Companies producing epidemic prevention materials are under normal operation with sufficient production capacity and can fully meet the city's epidemic prevention needs.

At the same time, Xi'an will closely monitor the prices of key commodities, oversee large operators and areas under lockdown and seriously investigate and deal with illegal activities, including hoarding and price gouging, to fully ensure a stable market. 

Xi'an reported 155 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday with the accumulated number of confirmed cases since December 9 reaching 485.