Guangzhou, one of the regions hardest hit by COVID-19 during this round of outbreak, is speeding up construction of fever outpatient departments and clinics and further optimizing the treatment process of emergency cases, a senior health official said.

According to Zhang Yi, deputy director and spokeswoman of the Guangzhou health commission, all the hospitals in the city are required to open fever clinics if they have the conditions, and offer medical services to mass residents.

Now the Guangdong provincial capital has a total of 93 fever outpatient departments in major hospitals, plus 137 special fever clinics, which have all opened to local residents, Zhang said.

"No fever outpatient department and clinic are allowed to suspend business and the treatment process of fever outpatient departments and clinics will be further optimized to maximize the convenience for mass residents to seek medical services," Zhang said at a news conference on Monday.

"We always insist on protecting the life, health and safety of people to the greatest extent while sparing no effort to fight against the pandemic," she said.

Zhang urged locals to go out less and pay special attention to protect them from getting sick, as people are easy to develop the symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat in fall and winter which is usually the peak period for flu and related respiratory diseases in Guangdong.

The city is still reporting sporadic outbreaks and multi-transmission chains still exist, Zhang said.

The districts of Huadu, Baiyun, Panyu and Haizhu have issued special pandemic prevention card to local residents.

The card provides advice on family medicine preparation, home care, quarantine and medical guidance after developing fever, said Zhang.

And many internet hospitals in the city can provide online medical consultation, symptomatic diagnosis and treatment and express medicine delivery services for mass residents, she said.

According to Zhang, Guangzhou reported an additional 4,416 local infections on Sunday — 753 patients with mild symptoms and 3,663 asymptomatic carriers.

Meanwhile 10,630 were discharged from hospitals and makeshift hospitals on Sunday, bringing the city's total of cured infections to 87,006 cases in this round of outbreak, she added.