As of Sunday morning, people who had come into close contact with two COVID-19 patients in Manzhouli City in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region had tested negative for the virus, according to local authorities.

All have however been isolated for further medical observation as epidemiological surveys and screening work continue.

Authorities said they were arranging citywide testing for residents.

On Saturday, Manzhouli City, at China's borders with Russia and Mongolia, said it detected two local infections.

The infected patients are a married couple living in the city's Dongshan Street. Local authorities said Sunday that places that the couple had earlier visited had all been fully disinfected.