Tianjin Photo:Xinhua

 
China's northern city of Tianjin sealed off 28 residential communities in Jinnan district and another one in Nankai district after detecting two local COVID-19 cases on early Saturday. 

The two patients, both mild cases, have been sent to designated hospitals in the morning. Further epidemiological survey is underway. 

Tianjin's epidemic prevention and control authority also designated other districts as management and prevention areas. Local authorities stressed the importance of patient care coming first, stating that delay or rejection of care would not be accepted, no matter what the excuse.  

As the city deployed new epidemic prevention and control measures, there were rumors circulating on Chinese social media platform, suggesting that Tianjin will be placed under lockdown. 

However, the Global Times confirmed with a local government service hotline on Saturday afternoon that no lockdown was in force. 

Global Times