In Nangong, where confirmed cases were also found, the local government has tested its around 500,000 residents.

Hebei has seen COVID-19 cases surge since it reported the first confirmed case on Sunday in the latest outbreak.

The source of the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Hebei is imported from overseas, and is highly likely to be from Europe, Feng said in an interview with China Central Television on Tuesday.

The cases in Shijiazhuang, Xingtai and Nangong have epidemiological connections, he said, adding that they were likely to have been infected from the same source.

The province announced on Tuesday that it has entered a state of war against the virus.

The provincial civil affairs department called for people to cancel or delay weddings to prevent COVID-19 infections in a circular released on Wednesday.