The top official in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province has demanded resolute and decisive measures to cope with the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic in the city.

Zhang Chaochao, the provincial capital city's Party chief, presided an epidemic prevention and control work meeting on Tuesday, Shijiazhuang Daily reported.

Over the meeting, he ordered work groups to carry out nucleic acid tests to find hidden infections and transfer positive cases to makeshift hospitals and designated hospitals for treatment.

He also required close contacts of those positive cases be quarantined for health observation.

To prevent further transmissions, the places that have been visited by positive cases and their close contacts will be closed.

Zhang also demanded standardized management on the hospitals and quarantine centers to enhance services and avoid cross transmissions.

The city reported 45 local confirmed cases and 763 asymptomatic carriers on Tuesday, the third consecutive day that saw infections over 600, according to the Health Commission of Hebei.