The rapid growth of COVID-19 infections during the current outbreak in Guangzhou of Guangdong province has curbed, with a stable decrease in new infections in key areas of Haizhu district.

However, uncertainty remains and the epidemic control remains challenging, according to a meeting of the provincial epidemic control headquarters on Saturday.

Huang Kunming, Party secretary of Guangdong, urged that the ninth COVID-19 control protocol be adhered to and the 20 new adjusted COVID-19 control measures issued recently by the State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism be implemented.

He also urged that resolute measures be taken to realize zero new infections in key areas and zero infection cases outside quarantine venues across the province as soon as possible.

The control should be carried out in a scientific and targeted manner; the designation and management of risk zones should be upgraded timely according to the changes of the epidemic and the lockdown measures should be removed immediately when related areas meet the required conditions, he said.

Guangdong reported 328 new local COVID-19 patients and 7,705 new local asymptomatic cases on Saturday. Among them, 146 patients and 7,266 asymptomatic cases were reported in Guangzhou.