A testing institution in Longyao County, Xingtai City, north China's Hebei Province, concealed positive COVID-19 test results when reporting to local health authorities on January 14, local authorities said Sunday. Instead, the institution said all samples taken during the second round of citywide nucleic acid testing were negative.

Two confirmed cases and one asymptomatic infection have been reported in the county as of 2 p.m. on Sunday, the authorities said, adding that all close contacts of newly confirmed cases have been quarantined for medical observation.

Longyao will launch the third round of nucleic acid testing on Monday, the authorities added.

The authorities have taken criminal compulsory measures against the representatives of the testing institution, and the case is being further investigated.