Heilongjiang province on Tuesday reported eight new locally transmitted confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two local asymptomatic carriers, according to the provincial Health Commission on Wednesday.

All the confirmed cases were found in Harbin. Among them, two were reported in Songbei district, one in Xiangfang district and the other five were detected in Bayan county, a statement said.

One of the asymptomatic carriers was found in Bayan and the other was reported in the province's Suihua city.

Nine officials from Harbin have been punished for failures related to COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, according to a statement from the city's disciplinary watchdog on Tuesday.

It said six officials from Songbei district and three from Bayan county were given punishments that ranged from criticism to warning within the Party, the statement said.

During the process of transporting people to the designated quarantine sites, staff members failed to make adequate preparations and organize orderly, bringing potential risks to the epidemic prevention and control in the entire city, the statement said.

The disciplinary watchdog also urged the governments of Songbei district and Bayan county to give in-depth self-criticism on the serious problems.

Since the first case in the latest outbreak was reported on Sept 20, Heilongjiang has reported 68 local confirmed cases and seven asymptomatic carriers.