The task of preventing the rebound of the COVID-19 epidemic is still arduous though Chongqing has contained the rapid rise of the infections, local officials warned at the daily briefing on Sunday afternoon.

A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid testing in Chongqing. [Photo/Xinhua]

"Though the number of daily infection cases is dropping and the overall epidemic situation is improving, the current number of infections is still high," said Li Pan, deputy director of the Chongqing Health Commission.

"The task of consolidating initial achievements in prevention and control and preventing the rebound of the epidemic is still heavy and arduous."

Chongqing, a city of 32 million in Southwest China, has logged more than 90,000 infections since its most recent outbreak began on Nov 1 and most cases were found in 11 districts in central urban areas.

On Saturday, Chongqing reported 260 newly confirmed local cases and 5,112 new asymptomatic carriers, most found in the high-risk areas and isolation facilities, according to figures released by the municipal Health Commission on Sunday.

He said, the operation of some businesses with confined spaces, such as cinemas, poker and mahjong clubs, indoor swimming pools and Internet cafes, as well as dine-in service, is still suspended.

Recently Chongqing has relaxed some epidemic controls as the situation is improving. Local people in low-risk areas do not need to take mass nucleic acid tests. Nucleic acid test results are not required to take public transport or to enter low-risk residential areas.

As of 11am Sunday, 79 rail stations and 565 bus lines have resumed normal operation, according to local light rail company.

Passengers who plan to leave Chongqing need to have 48-hour nucleic acid test results, according to local airport and the train stations. Most shopping malls and department stores in central urban areas have been open to business, but restaurants only provide take-out service, local media reported.

To meet the nucleic acid test demand of some residents, 1,050 test stations have been set up across the central urban area.