North China's Hebei Province has entered "wartime mode" after 19 confirmed locally transmitted coronavirus cases and 40 asymptomatic cases were reported between January 2 and 4, local authorities said on Tuesday.

Experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Health Commission have arrived in Shijiazhuang City and Xingtai City to curb the latest outbreak, Feng Zijian, deputy director of the Chinese CDC said on Tuesday.

According to Feng, the confirmed cases in Hebei have a strain from overseas, probably from Europe.

A citywide nucleic acid testing program will be conducted in Shijiazhuang City starting from Wednesday, the city's government spokesperson said Tuesday.

All kindergartens, primary and middle schools in Shijiazhuang City will suspend face-to-face classes starting from Wednesday, the municipal education bureau said.