Beijing reported four new COVID-19 cases in Changping District on Friday among travelers returning from north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region where a small surge of infections is going on.

The residential community where the four live was designated a COVID-19 medium-risk area.

The four, including one couple, returned to Beijing on October 16 after a self-drive trip to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Shanxi Province lasting several days.

They reported their travel history to authorities in Beijing on Thursday and their virus tests came back positive on Friday.

So far, a total of 194 close contacts have been traced and are being moved into isolation for medical observation. 

Officials in Changping said the district is now going into an emergency state.