East China's Shanghai City reported three new local COVID-19 cases, local authorities said at a press briefing on Thursday afternoon.

An epidemiological investigation has been launched. Tracing and testing are now underway for people who have come into close contact with the three individuals.

As of now, a total of 71 people in the city are classified as their close contacts and have been swabbed for virus tests – 37 of them have tested negative in the first round of testing while the rest are still waiting for results.

According to local officials, two of the three cases work for Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Renji Hospital in downtown Shanghai and are neighbors. 

The third patient is a friend of one of the two patients. 

The community where the three newly confirmed patients live in has now been locked down.