A total of 283 new high-risk areas have been designated in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province since Wednesday as the city optimizes its COVID-19 control measures.

Closed-off management measures temporarily implemented in Guangzhou were lifted on Wednesday afternoon as part of a more scientific and precise method of COVID-19 control.

A high-risk area becomes a low-risk one when no infections are reported for five consecutive days, said Zhang Yi, deputy director of Guangzhou Health Commission, at a news conference on Thursday.

Closed-off management will continue in key venues such as nursing homes, welfare houses, and maternity and baby caring facilities.

People coming from outside the province to Guangzhou are required to take nucleic acid tests once a day for three days, without gathering for those three days.

People leaving Guangzhou are required to present a negative nucleic acid test result from within 48 hours.

Key groups of people will continue to receive nucleic acid tests as stipulated in the country's ninth COVID-19 control protocol. Nucleic acid testing service will be adequately provided for people traveling or seeking medical services. Districts of the city will establish reasonable numbers of sampling spots, and families are encouraged to acquire antigen test kits.

The COVID-19 control situation in the city remains complicated and challenging. City authorities will continue to strengthen the protection of key and fragile groups of people.

They will continue to optimize control measures to restore normal life and work, Zhang said.