The northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang has entered "wartime" mode as a female in the city has tested positive for the novel coronavirus following a trip to South Korea, the local health commission said on Wednesday.

The commission said the 67-year-old woman was put under medical observation upon her arrival in Shenyang on November 29, noting that the result of her initial nucleic test for the coronavirus was negative after the 14-day quarantine.

The patient was confirmed to be infected with the virus on Wednesday and has been taken to a local hospital.

Tracing her close contacts and disinfection work are underway.