A woman who works in a hotel assigned for quarantine travelers from abroad was detected with COVID-19 in Guangzhou, Guangdong's provincial capital, in South China on Sunday, according to a statement released by the city's Nansha District Commission of Health on Sunday.

The woman, surnamed Wu, 31, is a staff member at a quarantine hotel for inbound travelers in Nansha district, and had a positive result from a nucleic acid test during a routine examination on Sunday. She was later diagnosed as an asymptomatic COVID-19 patient by local medical experts.

Wu has now been sent to the city's designated hospital for COVID-19 patients for further medical observation and treatment, and she is now in stable condition, the statement said.

Wu reported negative results in her nucleic acid testing three times on Nov 28, and Dec 4 and 11, respectively, the statement said.

Relevant departments in Nansha district, situated at the mouth of the Pearl River, immediately carried out further epidemiological investigation in areas where Wu works and lives, and urged locals who had contact with Wu to get nucleic acid tests to prevent the coronavirus from further spreading.

Meanwhile the district's center for disease control and prevention urged locals to actively cooperate with relevant departments to prevent and control the coronavirus from spreading in the district.

In addition to being extra careful about personal hygiene, authorities advise wearing masks properly, washing hands frequently, keeping ventilation flowing at home and offices, and retaining social distancing, the statement said.

Locals also have been urged to try to avoid organizing any party and related gathering and immediately seek medical help when they have fever, cough and related symptoms, the statement said.